Final answer:
The vaccine RVSV-ZEBOV for Ebola and Marburg viruses was underfunded due to a perceived low priority by governments and corporations. This was despite the high mortality rate of Ebola and the global risk posed by hemorrhagic fevers, as reflected in the slow response to the 2014-2015 West African Ebola epidemic.
Step-by-step explanation:
The lack of interest and underfunding for the vaccine RVSV-ZEBOV, developed as a response to hemorrhagic fevers caused by the Ebola and Marburg viruses, can likely be attributed to these viruses being viewed as a low priority by governments and private corporations. This is in part due to their historically localized impact and the sporadic nature of outbreaks.
Despite the potential global health implications highlighted by the 2014-2015 Ebola epidemic in West Africa, which claimed over 11,000 lives, the vaccine faced funding hurdles, prolonging the period without an approved treatment. Scientific efforts were further complicated by sociopolitical challenges, as seen in the contrasting governmental responses to subsequent health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.
The obstacles encountered in the development and distribution of the RVSV-ZEBOV vaccine underscore the precarious balance between medical urgency, economic considerations, and political willpower in addressing such global health challenges.