Main content

Follow the money: Why is a new Ebola vaccine taking so long to develop?

The latest Ebola outbreak in the DRC has claimed more than 3,400 lives and infected thousands more. Yet there is still no licensed vaccine for the strain responsible.

The Ebola outbreak in the DRC has claimed more than 3,400 lives and infected thousands more. Despite the scale of the outbreak, there is still no approved vaccine for the latest strain. Leanna Byrne examines what it takes and who pays to develop a vaccine. We look at what is slowing vaccine development and whether the limited commercial market for Ebola vaccines means governments, charities and international donors must step in to fund research.

(Photo: Sanitation measures underway at Bunia market to contain Ebola outbreak, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 23 May, 2026. Credit: EPA)

You can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Producer: Matt Lines

Available now

17 minutes

Last on

Yesterday 14:32GMT

Featured

  • .

Broadcasts

  • Yesterday 07:32GMT
  • Yesterday 14:32GMT

Podcast