WHO Launches Ebola Treatment Trial in Congo Outbreak
Photo: REUTERS
World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Thursday the start of a clinical trial in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to test potential treatments for the current lethal Ebola outbreak.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed that medical teams have enrolled the first patient in the DRC. WHO has officially declared the outbreak, which began in May across the DRC and Uganda, a public health emergency.
This specific Bundibugyo virus strain is highly infectious and has no approved vaccines or treatments. WHO sponsors the trial, with scientific coordination from the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale in the DRC, the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Belgium, and the University of Oxford in the UK.
Speaking from Geneva, Tedros stated, “The clinical trial of two therapeutics began, with the enrolment of the first patient.” He emphasized, “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.”
As of 30 June, WHO data reports 1,406 confirmed cases and 438 deaths in the DRC, along with 301 suspected cases. As of 1 July, Uganda has recorded 20 confirmed cases and two deaths, while France has confirmed one case.
The virus typically infects animals like fruit bats, but human transmission occurs through the handling of infected animals. Once infected, the virus attacks the body’s organs and immune system.
Symptoms appear suddenly within two to 21 days and resemble flu or malaria, including fever, headache, and fatigue.
Patients generally only become contagious after these symptoms develop. While six species of Ebola exist, only three cause known outbreaks, and researchers must develop specific vaccines for each individual species.
Source: BBC (adapted)
