Ebola Vaccine Development Faces Nine-Month Timeline Amidst Rising Death Toll
A viable vaccine against the current strain of Ebola could take as long as nine months to be ready, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Wednesday. This timeline comes as the confirmed death toll from the outbreak has reached 139, with 600 suspected cases reported in total.
Two experimental "candidate vaccines" are currently being developed to combat the Bundibugyo species of Ebola. However, neither has yet completed the crucial stages of clinical trials. Dr. Vasee Moorthy, a WHO advisor, stated on Wednesday that this development process is ongoing. The Bundibugyo species of Ebola has not been widely seen for over a decade, making its re-emergence a significant concern for public health officials.
WHO chief Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted the extent of the outbreak. He reported 51 confirmed cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the initial epicentre. Additionally, two confirmed cases have been recorded in neighbouring Uganda. The WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern on Sunday. However, Dr. Ghebreyesus clarified that the situation is not considered a pandemic emergency. The risk is assessed as high nationally and regionally. It is considered low at the global level.
The majority of confirmed cases in the DRC are located in its eastern Ituri and North Kivu provinces. The two confirmed cases in Uganda's capital, Kampala, were individuals who had travelled from the DRC. One of these individuals has since died. Dr. Ghebreyesus expressed particular concern because healthcare workers are among the deceased. Local health facilities are reportedly overwhelmed with suspected cases. Despite the arrival of some personal protective equipment, staff report working without adequate protection materials.
Trish Newport, an emergency programme manager for Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), described the situation. She noted that health facilities are declaring themselves "full of suspect cases." This indicates the severe strain on the healthcare system. The first identified case was a nurse who died on April 24 in Bunia, Ituri province. This region is where the outbreak first began.
The Bundibugyo Ebola species has only caused two previous outbreaks. These occurred in Uganda in 2007 and the DRC in 2012. These past outbreaks resulted in approximately one-third of infected individuals dying. While this species is generally less deadly than some others, its historical rarity means fewer established tools exist for its control. There is currently no approved vaccine for Bundibugyo. While a vaccine for the Zaire species of Ebola might offer some limited protection, it is not a direct solution. Dr. Moorthy mentioned that one promising candidate vaccine for Bundibugyo is based on the same technology as the one used for Covid-19 vaccines. Manufacturing of this vaccine is underway. However, there is currently no animal data to confirm its effectiveness. He estimated that doses for clinical trials could be available in two to three months, but this is subject to uncertainty pending animal trial results.
Adding to the challenge, there are no specific drugs that target the Bundibugyo species. This lack of targeted treatment complicates efforts to manage the outbreak. The DRC is facing its 17th Ebola outbreak. However, the emergence of the Bundibugyo strain presents unique difficulties. Initial symptoms of Ebola often mimic common illnesses in the region, such as malaria and typhoid. This can delay diagnosis and early intervention.
Years of conflict in eastern DRC also present additional complexities for managing the virus. The WHO defended its response time, stating that extensive efforts were made rapidly within a very challenging environment. This addresses recent criticism regarding the speed of identifying the outbreak.