What are the Ebola vaccines under research, and when will they be ready?

East Africa is currently in the throes of a rapidly spreading Ebola epidemic, with governments scrambling to contain the virus and hundreds of people confirmed with the infection.

The outbreak of the viral haemorrhagic fever, which has been triggered by a rare and deadly strain of Ebola, was first declared by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention on May 15 in the conflict-wracked eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The disease has since spread to neighbouring Uganda, which shares border communities with eastern DRC.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency two days after the outbreak was announced. By that time, hundreds had been infected. Last week, the WHO warned that ongoing conflict in the DRC was hampering efforts to contain Ebola’s spread.

While three vaccines are being researched and are set to be fast-tracked for trials, there is no approved vaccine for this strain as yet.

The outbreak began in eastern DRC’s Ituri province, where conflict is ongoing between armed rebels and the Congolese army, and where healthcare resources are already severely limited.

At least 321 cases had been confirmed by June 2 in the DRC, according to WHO, with another 116 cases suspected.

There have been 48 recorded deaths, with six patients in the country recovering.

In Uganda, which shares busy border communities with the DRC, WHO confirmed nine cases and at least one death on Tuesday.