[thedoc (OP)]

US scientists have developed a cheap and simple test for the Ebola virus which uses just a piece of paper and gives an answer in 20 minutes

Read the whole story on our website by clicking here

  

[CliffordK]

I have to ask whether this product has been tested with real tissue samples, or cultured virus.

More research will be needed to determine when the sample becomes positive post-infection, along with false negative, and potentially false positive rates.  However, I could see this as augmenting the current isolation and quarantine protocols.

[cheryl j]

Hope this isn't to off topic, but the fact that people who survive seem to develop protective antibodies (because their transfused blood has been used a therapy) how far away are we from a vaccine?

[alancalverd]

Current news is that at least one vaccine (GSK) is undergoing Phase 1 (safety in healthy subjects) testing with the intention to produce a "named subject" batch of some 10,000 shots for healthcare workers next month, and at least 3 other companies are gearing up for "general use" production early next year, including one plant with massive sponsorhip from the US Army, as an antiterrorism initiative.

[chris]

We did an Ebola update on the show recently; the vaccine question was explored as part of that. The transcript is on this page:

http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/content/interviews/interview/1000942/

Chris