The Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Dr Jean Kaseya, has criticised what he described as unequal global attention to Ebola, arguing that vaccine development might have progressed faster if the current outbreak were affecting Western countries.
Kaseya made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Thursday, as the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola continues to spread across parts of Africa.
“If this outbreak was in Western countries, vaccines would already be available,” he said.
The Africa CDC chief’s comments come amid growing concerns over the lack of an approved vaccine specifically targeting the Bundibugyo virus, which is responsible for the current outbreak.
Unlike the Zaire ebolavirus, which caused previous major outbreaks and is targeted by the licensed Ervebo vaccine, the Bundibugyo strain has no approved vaccine specifically designed to prevent the disease it causes.
The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed in its September 2026 guidance that no vaccine is licensed specifically for Bundibugyo virus disease. Although Ervebo targets a different Ebola virus species, evidence is still insufficient to establish whether it provides meaningful protection against Bundibugyo in humans. <Cite refs={[“turn285226search1″,”turn285226search4”]}/>
Kaseya said the Africa CDC had initiated efforts to accelerate vaccine research, including clinical trials of candidate vaccines. He also referred to a Bundibugyo vaccine candidate manufactured in Egypt as part of the ongoing development efforts.
However, candidate vaccines remain under investigation and should not be confused with approved products available for widespread use.
The WHO has called for accelerated research into vaccines and treatments for the strain, with promising candidates being evaluated through clinical trials. It has also recommended that existing Ebola vaccines be used against Bundibugyo only within appropriate research protocols while scientists assess their effectiveness. <Cite refs={[“turn285226search2″,”turn285226search11”]}/>
Kaseya also described the outbreak as exceptionally widespread, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) bearing a particularly heavy burden. Figures cited in the report put infections in the country above 9,500 and deaths at approximately 4,600.
The outbreak has also affected Uganda and Kenya, with Nigeria reporting an imported case in Abuja.
Nigeria’s case involves a woman who arrived from Uganda earlier in October and subsequently tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain. Health authorities have identified 44 close contacts and are monitoring them as part of efforts to prevent further transmission.
The absence of a specifically approved vaccine presents a major challenge for outbreak control, making early detection, isolation, contact tracing, infection prevention and public cooperation especially important.
Kaseya’s remarks have renewed debate over international investment in research for diseases that disproportionately affect African countries. His comments reflect his criticism of the global response, while the scientific challenge remains that a vaccine must be shown to be safe and effective against the particular virus strain before it can be approved for routine use.
The Africa CDC and its partners continue to support surveillance, outbreak response and research as health authorities work to limit the spread of the disease.
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