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April 10, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Oral Cholera Vaccine Effective in Human Tests"

Reuters Health Information Services (www.reutershealth.com)

(04/08/02)

Researchers at the Children's Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati report in the April issue of Infection and Immunity that a new oral cholera vaccine, called Peru-15, shows promise in preventing disease with few side effects.  Of 59 healthy volunteers, half were treated with the vaccine--which is made from live, weakened Vibrio cholerae bacteria--while the others received a placebo.  Approximately 12 weeks after vaccination, 36 of the study participants were exposed to live V. cholerae bacteria.  The researchers found that 97 percent of those who received the vaccine showed a fourfold increase in the amount of anti-cholera antibodies, and none developed cholera after exposure.

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