Ebola: Why is there still no vaccine?
Ebola has been known about for decades, but there is still no vaccine against the Bundibugyo strain of the virus causing the current outbreak. New research raises hopes of protection against the various types of Ebola.
The Ebola virus has been known for decades but still causes thousands of infections annually without a licensed vaccine or official treatment. A hitherto unknown disease broke out near the Ebola river in Zaire (now DRC) in 1976, marking the first scientifically documented Ebola epidemic. Fifty years later, DRC is once again at the center of a major Ebola outbreak caused by the less common Bundibugyo type of the Orthoebolavirus genus.
Despite being known for decades, developing a vaccine against the Bundibugyo variant has been a missed opportunity. Doctor Torsten Feldt from Düsseldorf University Hospital emphasizes that time was lost during previous outbreaks, giving crucial time for vaccine and therapeutic development. Leonie Mayer from the German Center for Infection Research explains that while Ebola is a predictable virus, the lack of funding and prioritization of other pathogens have hindered the development of a vaccine.
The existing Ebola vaccine, Ervebo, was developed for the Zaire variant but is not effective against the Bundibugyo variant. Despite the licensed vaccine's potential to trigger an immune response against other Ebola types, ethical concerns and the lack of proof of efficacy have prevented its deployment in the current outbreak. Additionally, challenges such as conflicts, difficult transport routes, and gaps in contact tracing make it harder to contain the disease.
While the scientific community believes that Ebola is a relatively straightforward vaccine candidate, practical limitations in vaccine development, availability, and acceptance remain significant hurdles.
Written by urgent.news from DW English (Top Stories)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
