Lethal Ebola virus outbreak triggers urgent international quest for vaccine

{"text":[[{"start":8.05,"text":"The deadly Ebola outbreak in two African countries driven by a virus species with no vaccine has triggered an urgent search for a potential jab, in a test of troubled global efforts to avert threats posed by emerging diseases."}],[{"start":22.950000000000003,"text":"A World Health Organization advisory group is due to meet on Tuesday to recommend candidate jabs to prioritise for clinical trials, the global health body said. It will assess data including an analysis by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (Cepi), which was set up after failures in the international response to a previous Ebola crisis.   "}],[{"start":42.95,"text":"The latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda has infected hundreds of people and killed more than 80, health authorities say. Cepi’s reaction will be a crucial indicator of its progress towards its wider goal of producing vaccines for pandemic threats in just 100 days, despite steep cuts to international health funding."}],[{"start":65.6,"text":"“If there was ever a time that we could show the world why Cepi is needed and show the world why the 100-day mission is needed, it’s now,” Nicole Lurie, the organisation’s executive director for preparedness and response, told the FT. “We’re happy to accept that responsibility, but obviously we need help from partners — particularly financial help in the long run.”"}],[{"start":88.19999999999999,"text":"DR Congo and Uganda would make the final decision on whether to press ahead with any vaccine candidates endorsed for clinical trials by the WHO experts, the global health body said. "}],[{"start":99.1,"text":"“Other ethical and community acceptability issues will be considered,” said the WHO, which declared the latest outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on Sunday. “This will be important to make sure that the trial, if it happens, will be adequately communicated to the population.”"}],[{"start":116.89999999999999,"text":"Lurie said Cepi had provided information from a survey of research teams and companies working on drugs that might be effective against the Bundibugyo virus behind the outbreak. The organisation hoped soon to announce partners in the quest for a jab, she added, although she declined to give a timescale for when one might be developed."}],[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":137.45,"text":"The hunt for a vaccine should be helped by scientific advances including the use of artificial intelligence to find drugs active against viruses, Lurie said. Existing jabs against the Zaire Ebola virus responsible for many previous outbreaks might provide a basis for tackling the Bundibugyo species, she added. "}],[{"start":155.64999999999998,"text":"“We’ll see how far and how fast we can get,” Lurie said, adding that Cepi had done preliminary work recently on a possible jab for the rat-borne hantavirus responsible for a recent fatal outbreak on a cruise ship. “Both with hantavirus and now with Ebola, [we] are getting some live-fire drills.”"}],[{"start":173.7,"text":"Ebola disease viruses, which are thought to be spread by fruit bats, cause haemorrhagic fever in people and are often fatal. They are transmitted between humans by direct contact, via broken skin or mucous membranes, with body fluids or objects contaminated with them."}],[{"start":190.25,"text":"Cepi, which was set up after a 2014-16 Ebola epidemic in West Africa that killed more than 11,000 people, has expanded its role since the Covid-19 pandemic. It is based in Norway and includes representatives from governments, industry and science. "}],[{"start":207.65,"text":"The coalition focuses on a group of priority destructive pathogens including Ebola, as well as work to deal with an as yet unknown “Disease X” with the potential to cause another pandemic.  "}],[{"start":219.35,"text":"Cepi and other bodies are grappling with sharp cuts to global health finance commitments by the US and other rich nations. “We’ve seen a lot of disinvestment from other countries in a lot of this — and that is particularly worrisome,” Lurie said."}],[{"start":239.64999999999998,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1779172358_1534.mp3"}