Canada has approved a vaccine to prevent Ebola in non-pregnant and otherwise healthy adults aged 18 and older.
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) says the single-dose Ervebo vaccine should be offered to individuals who have been exposed to the Ebola virus in Canada.
The agency clarifies that the vaccine is not intended for routine immunization or for vaccination prior to travel.
However, it may be considered for use in pregnant individuals or those with compromised immune systems who have been exposed to the virus in a laboratory or healthcare environment, as well as for infants and children who have been exposed.
PHAC adds that the vaccine may also be used in exceptional circumstances when a team of healthcare workers will be directly caring for individuals with confirmed symptoms, which include diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and internal bleeding.
The highly infectious disease starts with flu-like symptoms after contact with bodily fluids such as blood and saliva and has infected people in several African countries since the 1970s.
Although there have been a small number of cases reported outside of Africa in the past two decades, none have been diagnosed in Canada.
Patient isolation is essential to prevent the spread of the disease, and patients are given fluids to prevent dehydration. However, there is currently no cure.
PHAC states that the risk of exposure in Canada is “very low,” but individuals working in laboratories or healthcare settings are at a higher risk, especially if there are breaches in infection prevention and control protocols.
The United States approved the Ervebo vaccine in 2019, and at least one case has been reported since then.
The Merck vaccine has also been approved in various African countries.
