Ebola: Dangers and Vaccines

In some ways, the world’s fixation on Ebola’s deadly spread through West Africa is disproportionate to the actual danger. According to the World Health Organization’s latest figures, Ebola has killed more than 1,100 people. Those fatalities, while terrible, are dwarfed by those caused by the AIDS epidemic, which kills millions in sub-Saharan Africa every year. And unlike SARS, Ebola is much less contagious. It spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids. Ebola still plays a bit part on the world stage of global pandemics. The virus’s so far marginal danger goes a long way to explaining why there isn’t any known cure: Until now, there’s been no hugely compelling incentive for research companies to develop one. And yet some – including Canada’s Tekmira Pharmaceuticals – have come close.