What are the Ebola vaccines under research, and when will they be ready?

Research for new Ebola vaccines will be fast-tracked as experts warn the disease is moving faster than the response.

East Africa is currently in the throes of a rapidly spreading Ebola epidemic, with governments scrambling to contain the virus and hundreds of people confirmed with the infection.

The outbreak of the viral haemorrhagic fever, which has been triggered by a rare and deadly strain of Ebola, was first declared by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention on May 15 in the conflict-wracked eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The disease has since spread to neighbouring Uganda, which shares border communities with eastern DRC.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency two days after the outbreak was announced. By that time, hundreds had been infected. Last week, the WHO warned that ongoing conflict in the DRC was hampering efforts to contain Ebola’s spread.

While three vaccines are being researched and are set to be fast-tracked for trials, there is no approved vaccine for this strain as yet.

The outbreak began in eastern DRC’s Ituri province, where conflict is ongoing between armed rebels and the Congolese army, and where healthcare resources are already severely limited.

At least 321 cases had been confirmed by June 2 in the DRC, according to WHO, with another 116 cases suspected.

There have been 48 recorded deaths, with six patients in the country recovering.

In Uganda, which shares busy border communities with the DRC, WHO confirmed nine cases and at least one death on Tuesday.

The Ugandan government added later on the same day that six new cases had been discovered, bringing the total to 15. Cases have been confirmed in the capital Kampala, hundreds of kilometres from the DRC border.

Experts are warning that the outbreak could rival some of the most severe Ebola epidemics. The worst was in West Africa in 2014. Within two years, about 29,000 people had been infected by the Zaire virus. More than 11,000 people died. Combined with a lack of vaccines and protective gear for health workers, the outlook for this epidemic is bleak, experts say.

“It’s always challenging to respond to any Ebola outbreak, and this is in the context where there are already massive humanitarian needs,” said Trish Newport, deputy manager of Ebola programmes in DRC for Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

Newport noted that funding cuts – such as sweeping cuts to United States foreign aid by the administration of US President Donald Trump last year – have also seen many health and aid organisations pull out of Itu