Ebola Treatment Trial Begins in DRC with First Patient Enrolled
Quick Look
- A clinical trial for potential Ebola treatments has commenced in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with the World Health Organization (WHO) announcing the enrollment of the first patient.
- The trial aims to find safe and effective therapeutics for the Bundibugyo virus strain, which has caused over 1,400 cases and 438 deaths in the DRC.
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Why It Matters
A deadly Ebola outbreak is ongoing in the Democratic Republic of Congo. There are currently no approved vaccines or treatments for the specific virus strain involved.
A trial of potential treatments for the strain of virus behind the current deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has begun, the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced.
The first patient has been enrolled in the DRC, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Thursday.
More than 1,400 cases and 438 deaths have been confirmed in the DRC alone, according to the WHO.
There are currently no approved vaccines or treatments for the Bundibugyo virus strain of the disease, which is highly infectious.
The current trial is sponsored by the WHO, and is being co-ordinated by scientists at the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale in DRC, the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Belgium, and the University of Oxford in the UK.
Speaking to reporters from the WHO headquarters in Geneva on Thursday, Tedros said: "The clinical trial of two therapeutics began, with the enrolment of the first patient.
"Even without approved therapeutics, people are recovering from this disease, but of course, we could save many more lives with safe and effective therapeutics in our toolkit," the WHO head said.
Open Questions
- What are the two specific therapeutics being trialed?
- What are the expected timelines for trial results?
- What is the success rate of current supportive care?
