Behind the Mission to Stop Viral Outbreaks Within 100 Days
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is working to prepare for future viral outbreaks by aiming to develop vaccines within 100 days of identifying a new pathogen. Current outbreaks, including hantavirus and Ebola, highlight the urgent need for improved global health preparedness. CEPI estimates that $2.5 billion is necessary to build the infrastructure required to respond effectively to future pandemics.
- ▪There are ongoing outbreaks of hantavirus and Ebola, with the latter already causing 131 deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- ▪CEPI was founded in 2017 to prevent the slow vaccine development seen during past outbreaks, such as Ebola.
- ▪The 100 days mission aims to create a system that can deliver vaccines within 100 days of a new pathogen's genome being sequenced.
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There are at least two major viral outbreaks underway in the world right now: the Andes hantavirus outbreak that began on a cruise ship and now involves people from more than 20 countries, and the Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which was only very recently announced but which has already killed 131 people and crossed at least one border. No vaccines exist yet for either of these rare strains of already rare diseases.The world is underprepared for threats that are already here, global-health experts argue.
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