Ebola vaccine may never be developed to prevent the onset of infection of the lethal viral disease–scientists have said.
This follows the cutting of funding for research on Ebola.Two companies with leading vaccine candidates have had their funding from the Pentagon suspended in recent weeks.
Research into development of a vaccine have been mainly funded by the US Department of Defense and the National Institutes of Health pouring millions of dollars into scientific research because of concerns that the virus could be turned into a biological weapon.
Ebola is often described as the most frightening disease on Earth.The virus causes a severe haemorrhagic fever, where victims bleed both internally and externally.
An expert said it was now “unlikely” a prophylactic vaccine would ever be used to prevent outbreaks of the disease.
Since the Pentagon began funding this research, several vaccine candidates have been developed and have shown themselves effective in animal trials.
Two companies, Sarepta and Tekmira have begun human safety trials of their vaccines.
However, in recent days, both companies have been told by the Defense Department to temporarily stop work on their vaccines due to funding constraints.
It is expected that a decision to either resume testing or completely terminate the contracts will be made by early September.
Scientists say their understanding of the nature of the virus has markedly improved over the past decade.
But the chances of turning that knowledge into a vaccine are very dependent on money.
Ebola in Uganda
Experts from the WHO and the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention are in Uganda to advise health officials responding to the outbreak.
Uganda has experienced three outbreaks of Ebola since 2000 when 224 people were killed.
At least 42 people were killed in another outbreak in 2007, and there was a single confirmed case in 2011.
Close to 17 people have died as a result of the latest outbreak that had Kibaale District, in the west of the country, as its epicentre.
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