Scientists to pave way for Hepatitis C Vaccine

Updated at: 2041 PST, Monday, August 08, 2011
ISLAMABAD: The European scientists have claimed that they have created a vaccine for hepatitis C which has proved successful in treating hepatitis C in animals.

According to a private news channel, hepatitis C is a lethal disease which kills 350,000 people worldwide, every year. It is estimated that currently about 170 million people are affected with the virus worldwide. Out of them, 10 million people have contracted the virus through sharing illegal drugs and pipes.

The researchers have warned that without intervention the spread of the virus could not be controlled. The hepatitis C is a strong virus as without timely prevention it grows stronger. It has been reported that for the invention of the hepatitis C, the researchers used "virus-like particles".

The lead author of the study informed that "virus-like particles" provoke an immune reaction, helping the body to develop resistance, but do not contain any genetic material that would allow a "virus" to multiply. He said, "Once injected into the body, the virus-like particles have the capacity to trigger neutralizing antibodies that could protect a person if they are exposed to the virus". Although the vaccine has been tested over animal, it is yet to be tested on human.