Africa CDC Says No Ebola Vaccine Yet Because Partners See It as an African Problem

(Ebola outbreak. Photo by TRT Afrika)
Africa CDC Director General Dr Jean Kaseya says there is no vaccine for the current Ebola outbreak because global partners treat it as an African issue.

He spoke on a TV programme on Thursday.

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

The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain.

Unlike the strain behind the 2014 to 2016 West Africa epidemic, which has a licensed vaccine called Ervebo, this strain has no approved vaccine or specific treatment.

Kaseya said the Africa CDC has started clinical trials of new vaccines, including a Bundibugyo vaccine made in Egypt.

He said this is the most widespread Ebola outbreak in history, affecting three regions of Africa.

The Democratic Republic of Congo alone has more than 9,500 infections and about 4,600 deaths.

Nigeria confirmed its first case on Tuesday in a woman who arrived from Uganda on October 3.

There are 44 contacts being monitored.