The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that the development of a promising vaccine against the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus will take at least six to nine months. This information was conveyed by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who reported 139 fatalities linked to the outbreak, with suspected cases rising to approximately 600.
Dr. Vasi Murti, head of the WHO research program, indicated that the most promising vaccine is based on the same technology as the vaccines for the Zaire strain of Ebola. He noted,
“Currently, there are no doses available for clinical trials… According to our information, this may take six to nine months.”
In contrast, doses of an alternative vaccine may be available for clinical trials within two to three months. However, Dr. Murti emphasized that there remains significant uncertainty, as results from animal trials regarding efficacy have yet to be obtained.
Director-General Tedros highlighted that the detection of cases is complicated by the security situation in Ituri province, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where armed conflict has displaced over 100,000 people in recent months. Additionally, other prevalent diseases in the region, such as malaria and typhoid fever, present similar initial symptoms to Ebola, which can further delay diagnosis.
In response to criticism from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who stated that the WHO announced the outbreak too late, Tedros suggested that this may stem from a misunderstanding of the situation.
The outbreak of Ebola in Africa was previously declared by the WHO as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. This decision was made due to the cross-border spread of the infection, the emergence of new clusters of cases with unidentified transmission chains, and significant uncertainty regarding the actual scale of the epidemic.
As of May 19, the DRC has reported at least 100 deaths attributed to the Ebola outbreak, along with over 390 confirmed cases of infection. The U.S. Department of State has initiated a program to support outbreak response efforts by funding the establishment of up to 50 treatment clinics in regions of the DRC and Uganda.
The WHO has outlined the timeline for developing a new Ebola vaccine amid a significant outbreak in the DRC, where fatalities and suspected cases continue to rise. The situation is complicated by regional conflicts and the prevalence of other diseases with similar symptoms.