There is no Ebola vaccine yet - WHO

Dr. Margaret Chan, director general of the W.H.O

The head of the World Health Organisation's scathing conclusion came as nearly 5,000 people have lost their lives to the hemorrhagic fever - the majority in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. 

Dr Margaret Chan, director general of the WHO, criticized drugs companies for turning their backs on 'markets that cannot pay'.

She said the current outbreak - the most deadly in history - has exposed two WHO arguments 'that have fallen on deaf ears for decades'. 

Addressing the regional committee for Africa in Benin yesterday, Dr Chan said: 'Ebola emerged nearly four decades ago. Why are clinicians still empty handed, with no vaccines and no cure?

'Because Ebola has historically been confined to poor African nations.

'The R&D (research and development) incentive is virtually non-existent.

'A profit-driven industry does not invest in products for markets that cannot pay.

'WHO has been trying to make this issue visible for ages. Now people can see it for themselves.' 

Two promising drugs are in development are there are trials taking place in the US, UK, Mali with plans to extend them in Europe, Gabon and Kenya.

First safety and efficacy results are expected by the end of next year.

Healthcare workers in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea could receive the trial drugs as part of the second phase of trials in January.