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A European project leads to a new diagnosis of the Ebola fever
February 26, 2002Research teams involved in a European project have developed and tested in epidemic conditions a new diagnosis technique of infections by the Ebola virus. This has been achieved while a new haemorrhagic Ebola fever epidemic is striking Gabon since December.
For Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin, "this advance shows the interest of an international and multi-field co-operation between European and African teams on important subjects for human health whose impact goes beyond the borders of a country or even a continent. In this context, it is crucial for all to better understand, better detect and better treat illnesses such as the Ebola fever."
For the fourth time, an haemorrhagic Ebola fever epidemic occurred in Gabon at the end of 2001, in the region of Ogooué Ivindo (Mékambo). The haemorrhagic Ebola fever was diagnosed by the International Medical Research Centre of Franceville (CIRMF) on 8 December. A secondary epidemic then appeared in a village of Congo Brazzaville located a few kilometres from the border as a result of patients arriving from Gabon. The origin of contamination seems to be a contact with a large monkey (chimpanzee or gorilla) infected by the Ebola virus.
Moreover, an epizootic is also affecting large monkeys, as numerous gorillas and chimpanzees - likely to infected by the Ebola virus - died in the region. To date, the epidemic is still not over and there are currently 42 confirmed cases, including 34 deaths, and several non-confirmed cases are still hospitalised. Numerous persons having been in liaison with patients are also under monitoring.
In this context, scientists from the Mérieux-Pasteur Research Centre in Lyon (CRMPL, Association Fondation Mérieux and Institut Pasteur) have been able to test in CIRMF laboratories (Gabon) a new diagnosis technique based on the detection of viral genomes (see annex). In the current epidemic context, the new and simplified test seems very satisfactory and shows sensitivity similar to the RT-PCR standard technique, which would allow detecting the infection among patients at an early stage of the symptoms.
The international co-operation supported by the European Union has proven successful to provide a solution in an epidemic situation and to contribute to the technological development of poor countries. In fact, this achievement has been made possible through combining the know-how of several laboratories working on polymer chemistry, colloidal physico-chemistry, viral haemorrhagic fevers and field workers of an endemic area (see annex). The impact for public health is obvious as it will allow identifying ill persons and taking preventive measures to avoid secondary infections. This rapid, precise and robust identification technique of virus in blood will make it possible to apprehend better the epidemic in the blossoming phase and to implement a suitable therapeutics when it will be available.
European Commission, Research Directorate
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