Ebola has been known for decades, but there is still no vaccine against the Bundibugyo strain causing the current outbreak. New research raises hopes of protection against various types of Ebola. The virus was first identified in 2007 during an outbreak in Bundibugyo, Uganda, and another outbreak occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2012. Experts like Torsten Feldt from Düsseldorf's University Hospital believe this is a missed opportunity to develop vaccines and therapeutic options. Leonie Mayer from the German Center for Infection Research suggests that while it is relatively straightforward to develop a vaccine against Bundibugyo, lack of funding and prioritization of other pathogens have played a role. The existing vaccine, Ervebo, was developed for the Zaire variant and has limited use in current outbreaks. Mayer's research team found cross-reactive T-cell responses against Bundibugyo and the Sudan virus, offering a potential path forward.
Ver más en News Today