Australian scientists have developed a vaccine against blood fluke parasites, a disease affecting 200 million people worldwide.
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Liver Fluke Larvae (Image: VNN) |
The vaccine works by stimulating the immune system to help the body detect the parasites and has reduced fluke infection rates by over 60% in trials. Flukes, found in stagnant water in tropical regions of developing countries, can cause liver cancer, kidney failure, cirrhosis, and even death.
Alex Loukas, head of the Helminth Biology Laboratory at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, stated that the vaccine developed by his team could save thousands of lives, as it is a more practical solution compared to current treatments. Loukas said: “There are drugs that can kill this parasite, but the problem is that people have to keep these medications with them for life. This vaccine can protect people for 5-10 years instead of having to treat them every few months.”
Currently, this vaccine is undergoing testing in animals and is awaiting funding for clinical trials in humans.
Q.HƯƠNG
