Efficacious Tick Encephalitis Vaccine Developed In Siberia

The scientific production association, Virion, based in Tomsk, Western Siberia, has developed a new tick encephalitis vaccine. Clinical tests proved the vaccine, which was called EnceVir, to be very efficacious, said Virion General Director Nina Stavitskaya. The basis of the vaccine makes an eastern culture of the virus, 205, predominantly used in the regions suffering from the most acute forms of tick encephalitis. The new vaccine is very well refined and it is practically not allergenic. Besides, vaccination can be done all the year round. Beginning 2002, EnceVir can be vaccinated to people over 18, since the tests have been carried out on grown-ups only. Specialists, however, promise to make the vaccine fit for children as well in a year, according to Ms Stavitskaya. The vaccine production was arranged in short time - within April-December, 2001. The tick encephalitis rate in the Tomsk region makes up 50 to 80 cases per 100,000 people. Yet, as little as 10-12 percent of the population has been vaccinated against the infection.