The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has criticised the lack of investment in developing a vaccine against the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, nearly two decades after the virus was first identified in Uganda.

The agency’s Director-General, Jean Kaseya, said the absence of an approved vaccine reflected the international community’s failure to prioritise diseases largely affecting African countries.

Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Thursday, Mr Kaseya argued that the situation would have been different if outbreaks of the disease had occurred in Western countries.

“If this outbreak was in Western countries, vaccines will already be available,” he said.

Mr Kaseya said the Bundibugyo virus was first identified 19 years ago and had caused three outbreaks, yet no vaccine had been approved specifically to prevent the disease.

He said the situation highlighted the need for African countries to invest in vaccine research, clinical trials and local manufacturing rather than depend almost entirely on international partners.

Africa pushes for vaccine development

Mr Kaseya said Africa CDC was working with partners to advance research into vaccines against the Bundibugyo virus, including efforts involving an African manufacturer in Egypt.

He said the agency was also collaborating with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda to explore possible research and emergency-use options involving existing Ebola vaccines.

One of the vaccines under consideration, Ervebo, is approved for preventing disease caused by the Ebola virus, formerly known as the Zaire strain. However, it is not approved for preventing disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus.

Mr Kaseya said the ongoing efforts were intended to strengthen Africa’s ability to respond to disease outbreaks without relying heavily on external support for vaccines and other essential medical products.

“We don’t want to see Africa left behind,” he said.

He maintained that Africa had the scientific expertise, skilled personnel and manufacturing potential needed to develop and produce vaccines, medicines and diagnostic tools.

Nigeria’s Ebola case

Mr Kaseya’s remarks come as Nigeria responds to its first confirmed case of Ebola virus disease, following an outbreak that began in the DRC in May.

As PREMIUM TIMES reported on Thursday, the confirmed patient is the wife of a diplomat who had travelled to Kampala, Uganda, before returning to Abuja. She developed symptoms shortly after her return and initially sought treatment for what was believed to be malaria before her infection was confirmed.

The Nigerian government said the patient is receiving medical care in isolation, while health authorities have identified 44 contacts for monitoring.

The case makes Nigeria the latest country affected by the cross-border spread of the disease.

The ongoing outbreak has also affected the DRC and Kenya, while Uganda previously recorded cases before declaring its outbreak over.

Greater control of vaccine production

Mr Kaseya said the response to the current outbreak should mark a turning point in how Africa prepares for and manages infectious disease emergencies.

He identified three priorities: expanding vaccine manufacturing on the continent, improving coordination among international partners and increasing domestic funding for public health responses.

According to him, 28 African countries had contributed funding to support the response, which he described as a significant demonstration of growing continental ownership of health emergencies.

He said African countries must continue to mobilise resources rather than depend almost entirely on international assistance when outbreaks occur.

Mr Kaseya also stressed that the organisation had a responsibility to protect the continent’s estimated 1.5 billion people across 55 countries, adding that its response to the Nigerian case was being coordinated with the country’s health authorities and international partners.

He said that the current outbreak should accelerate efforts to build a more self-reliant African health system, with stronger domestic financing and greater capacity to develop and produce essential medical supplies.

“After Ebola, Bundibugyo will not be like before Bundibugyo,” he said, expressing confidence that the continent’s approach to vaccine development and outbreak response would change.

Following the confirmation of an Ebola case in Abuja, some Nigerians on X have linked the development to the federal government’s plans for the 2027 general elections, questioning the timing of the outbreak and its handling of the case.

The comments include claims that the government could use the disease as a pretext to restrict movement, affect political gatherings or influence voter turnout ahead of the elections.

The federal government on Tuesday confirmed that a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda tested positive for Ebola and is receiving treatment in isolation at a private hospital in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Authorities said 44 close contacts had been identified, including healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and travel contacts, and are being monitored as part of efforts to prevent further transmission.

The announcement has triggered scepticism among some Nigerians online, with some questioning whether the case could be connected to political activities ahead of the 2027 elections.

One X user, @xikonex, claimed that the government could impose movement restrictions after Christmas, alleging that such measures could prevent Nigerians from travelling to their polling areas.

“APC and Bola Tinubu are planning to use Ebola to restrict Nigerians’ movement immediately after Christmas,” the user wrote, alleging that the aim would be to prevent people from voting.

Another user, @funnycrown6, urged Nigerians to remain vigilant ahead of the elections, saying: “Nigeria’s health must never become a tool for political propaganda. Our lives are not campaign strategies.”

@AnthonyOnyeGuy also questioned the timing of the development, writing: “Conveniently happening 2 months to a general election.”

Another user, @Franeb, similarly alleged that the government could impose restrictions under the guise of containing Ebola, writing that “Bola Tinubu wants to lock down Nigeria in the name of Ebola.”

Comparing 2014 response

Some Nigerians also compared the current response with Nigeria’s handling of the 2014 Ebola outbreak, when Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer became the country’s index case after arriving in Lagos.

@N6oflife6 wrote that Nigerians knew the identity of the 2014 index case and the hospital where he was treated, but claimed that the government had provided less information about the current patient.

“Ebola has happened under BAT. Two days now we don’t even know the name of the patient or who they have contacted,” the user wrote.

Similarly, @firstladyship referenced Sawyer and the late physician Stella Adadevoh, who died after contracting Ebola while treating him, arguing that the current response has left room for “guesses” and “speculations”.

However, the federal government has assured that it is taking measures to contain the infection and prevent community transmission.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, said authorities are currently treating the case as an imported infection rather than community transmission. The 44 identified contacts are being monitored for at least three weeks, while public health teams continue to identify people who may have been exposed.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has also urged Nigerians to remain calm, saying that one imported case does not by itself mean Nigeria is experiencing an Ebola outbreak.

WHO Regional Director for Africa, Mohamed Janabi, said the organisation is supporting Nigeria with case investigation, contact tracing, laboratory testing, infection prevention and control, and protection of health workers and communities.

Lawmakers demand action

Amid public concern, the House of Representatives on Wednesday urged the federal government to release outstanding funds appropriated for health agencies, citing the need to strengthen surveillance, contact tracing, and emergency response. 

Lawmakers also raised concerns about infection prevention supplies, health-worker preparedness and emergency response capacity. The Senate separately called for the immediate release of emergency funds from the Service Wide Vote and urged stronger health screening at airports and other entry points.

Nigeria successfully contained its 2014 Ebola outbreak and was declared free of transmission by WHO on 20 October 2014, after 42 days without a new case. The outbreak recorded 20 cases, including 19 laboratory-confirmed cases and one probable case, with eight deaths.