Following a recent Ebola outbreak in Africa, former Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) has publicly advocated for an increase in, and possibly state-organized, vaccine research against the dangerous virus. Lauterbach, speaking to “Stern” noted that he believes the work is not sufficiently profitable for private companies undertaking the research.
He stressed that better methods are needed to support vaccine discovery in general, criticizing the previous US administration, which he claims severely damaged the field. Lauterbach stated that the slowdown in vaccine research-whether conducted or financed by Americans-was significant. He further highlighted the necessity of US specialists on the ground in outbreak zones. According to Lauterbach, the global community lacks not just funding, but also the kind of expertise that American experts provide in managing and diagnosing infectious outbreaks quickly.
While assessing the threat domestically, Lauterbach estimated the danger in Germany to be very low at the moment. However, he acknowledged that the increase in zoonoses-diseases transmitted from animals to humans-is cause for concern, signaling that the world is entering an uncertain period. Despite this broader warning, he concluded that the current Ebola outbreak is thankfully not considered a threat to Germany or Europe.