As global efforts to tackle the Covid-19 infection continue, two other deadly diseases, Zika and Ebola, are also being tackled.
On 25 June, the World Health Organization announced that the world’s second-deadliest Ebola outbreak had been ended.
This was achieved using the first successful Ebola vaccine and two antibody-based drugs, all developed with research including the use of animals, monkeys in particular.
Meanwhile, at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), USA, researchers have analysed two Zika vaccine candidates in monkey and mice models.
These animal studies showed that the vaccines could be effective, but not equally protective.
Zika is particularly dangerous to pregnant women due to the risk of birth defects, and such studies with animals helps to move towards preventing this risk.