No vaccine for current Ebola outbreak — Africa CDC

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has attributed the lack of an approved vaccine for the current Ebola outbreak to what its Director-General, Dr Jean Kaseya, described as partners’ perception of the disease as an African problem.

Kaseya made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Thursday, expressing concern over the absence of an approved vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola vir¥s.

“If this outbreak was in Western countries, vaccines would already be available,” he said.

Unlike the Ebola strain responsible for the 2014–2016 West Africa epidemic, which has a licensed vaccine known as Ervebo, the Bundibugyo strain currently has no licensed vaccine or specific approved treatment.

Kaseya disclosed that the Africa CDC had initiated clinical trials for new vaccine candidates, including one developed in Egypt to target the Bundibugyo strain.

The Africa CDC chief also described the outbreak as the most geographically widespread in history, saying it had affected three regions of Africa. He cited reports of more than 9,500 infections and about 4,600 deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo alone.

Nigeria confirmed its first case on Tuesday in a woman who arrived from Uganda on October 3. Following the confirmation, 44 contacts were placed under monitoring as health authorities intensified efforts to contain the spread.

The lack of an approved vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain remains a major challenge in responding to the outbreak, with clinical trials underway as health authorities work to limit further transmission.