MOSCOW, January 15. /TASS/. Russia will present officially its vaccine for Ebola at the World Health Organization's Board meeting, due in Geneva on January 25-30, Russia's Healthcare Minister Veronika Skvortsova said on Friday.
"As yet, we have not presented any information to anyone," she said. "But next Sunday I am leaving for the WHO Board meeting, where will be presentation and discussion of our vaccine."
"The vaccine’s further use in Guinea and other African countries will be made under supervision of the UN and WHO monitors," the minister said.
Accoridng to Veronika Skvortsova, the Russian vaccine may be included in the open comparison with the products made in other countries.
"We shall not object to a decision we should join an open comparison research to compare effectiveness of our vaccines and vaccines made by another company," she said.
A preliminary cost of the vaccine for Ebola’s dose is 12,000 rubles, head of the Gamaley Epidemiology and Microbiology Research Institute Alexander Gintsburg said on Friday.
"As of today, but I cannot guarantee it will remain unchanged by April, a dose cost is 12,000 [about $160]," he said.
On January 13, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin told the government about Russia’s new vaccine for Ebola.
World Health Organization (WHO) data puts the death toll from Ebola's West Africa outbreak at 11,291 and the number of infected cases at 28,147.
These cases were reported from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The maximum number of Ebola-related deaths and cases was registered in Liberia, at nearly 4,800 fatalities and more than 11,000 cases of infection. Most victims have been registered in three countries - Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. UNICEF reported in December, the outbreak of the deadly virus left 22,000 children parentless.
WHO says Ebola virus disease is "a severe, often fatal illness, with a case fatality rate of up to 90%".