No Ebola vaccines exist for the strain in the current outbreak, but scientists are developing some

Around 50 confirmed Ebola cases, 600 suspected cases, and 130 suspected deaths are under investigation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. Health officials are working to contain a fast-expanding outbreak caused by the rare Bundibugyo species of Ebola virus. Cases have been detected in major Congolese cities including Goma and Bunia, increasing concern about wider spread. No licensed vaccine or treatment exists for Bundibugyo Ebola. Several vaccine candidates are being developed, including an mRNA vaccine, but none are available yet. Ebola countermeasure development has focused mainly on Ebola Zaire, leaving other strains with less vaccine progress. A universal filovirus vaccine is described as an ideal goal.

"Around 50 confirmed Ebola cases, 600 suspected cases and 130 suspected deaths are now under investigation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda as health officials race to contain a fast-expanding outbreak caused by the rare Bundibugyo species of Ebola virus."

"This species of Ebola is one for which there is no licensed vaccine or treatment, Anne Ancia, the World Health Organization representative in the DRC, said in a press briefing Tuesday."

"Experts are working on several vaccine candidates for Bundibugyo, including an mRNA vaccine, but they aren't available yet. This species of Ebola is one for which there is no licensed vaccine or treatment."

"Ideally, what you'd want is kind of a universal filovirus [the family that contains Ebola and Marburg viruses] vaccine that works against all the strains of Ebola, as well as the Marburg strains. I think that would be the holy grail here."

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