Israel has begun testing a COVID-19 vaccine prototype on rodents at its bio-chemical defence laboratory

News.Com.Au ^ | 03/31/2020 | Dan Williams

[SeekAndFind]

Israel has begun testing a COVID-19 vaccine prototype on rodents at its bio-chemical defence laboratory, a source says.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the Israel Institute for Biological Research (IIBR), in rural Ness Ziona, to join the fight against the coronavirus pandemic on February 1, prompting an easing of its secrecy as it co-operates with civilian scientists and private firms.

In a statement, Netanyahu's office said IIBR director Shmuel Shapira had informed him of "significant progress" in designing a vaccine prototype and that the institute "is now preparing a model for commencing an animal trial".

A source familiar with IIBR activities told Reuters that trials were already under way on rodents. The source declined to identify the kind of rodent.

The IIBR is widely assumed to have worked on biological and chemical arms projects. Israel neither confirms nor denies this.

In rare public comments, IIBR chief innovation officer Eran Zahavy said last week that the institute had shifted its entire focus to the new coronavirus, with three groups trying to develop a vaccine against the COVID-19 disease it causes, and others researching potential treatments.

"We are trying as much as we can to collaborate and have other ideas of other people," he said at last week's English-language online conference hosted by Jerusalem Venture Partners.

"But the facility of the lab is very crowded and very busy and very dangerous so it has to be very slow and very cautious."

Israel has reported 4473 cases of COVID-19 and 17 fatalities. Having tightened restrictions on public movement, Netanyahu is weighing a lockdown of parts of the country.

Both Netanyahu and the chief of Israel's military, Lieutenant-General Aviv Kohavi, went into self-isolation this week after being exposed to coronavirus carriers.

Netanyahu tested negative for the virus on Monday.

[RedStateRocker]

Test it on prisoners.

If they are a felon, expose ‘em.

Try every vaccine and every cure at once.

There’s no more reason for us to respect the 8th amendment than the libs have shown towards the 1st or 2nd. Anyone in prison would be better used for experiments or organs anyway.

[shalom aleichem]

OMG! Someone alert PETA!

[Paradox]

When it comes to developing stuff, Israel kicks total ass. For such a tiny country in the middle of a sh*thole part of the world, its amazing. Of course the average IQ there has got to be one of the highest in the world.

[Desslok]

“The source declined to identify the kind of rodent”.

Sorry Minnie but Micky ain’t coming back.

[dfwgator]

Rat-Keteers: HI, RICKEY!

Scumbo: Wait a minute, Bucky! This isn’t the same Rickey from last week!

Stinky: Yeah, this doesn’t look like Rickey!

Willard: Well, this ISN’T Rickey! Our Rickey had progressive tail mange!

Bucky: (groping for an alibi) Uh… well! Uh… yeah, that’s right! Uh, this is… This is Rickey’s twin brother, DICKEY! This is DICKEY Rat!

Rat-Keteers: Ohhhhh…

Scumbo: What happened to Rickey, Bucky?

Bucky: Uh, this week Rickey’s been helping science!

Scumbo: Doing what?

Bucky: Testing cyclamates!