The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is intensifying. With over 1,400 cases and 438 deaths tainting the morale of health workers, there is a small piece of good news. A treatment trial has begun.
The DR Congo has officially started a trial of potential treatments for the species of virus behind the current deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The strain, called Budibugyo, has been difficult to treat since it is not the more common Zaire strain.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that the first patient in the trial has been enrolled, according to a report by the BBC. The current trial is sponsored by the WHO, Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Thursday.
There are currently no approved vaccines or treatments for the Bundibugyo virus species of the disease, which is highly infectious and spreads through contact with bodily fluids or incorrect handling of the deceased.
The testing will include using two antiviral drugs on patients. While speaking to reporters from the WHO headquarters in Geneva on Thursday, Ghebreyesus said: “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.”
DR Congo’s Health Minister, Dr. Samuel Roger Kamba, agreed with the WHO chief. He said the launch “represents a significant step forward, offering renewed hope to patients, their families, and affected communities”.
The situation has been declared a public health emergency by the WHO, which says there have been 1,460 confirmed cases in DR Congo, with 150 suspected cases and 452 deaths, as of July 1st. According to the WHO, 213 people have recovered.
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Other issues have compounded, making it difficult to contain this outbreak. A Marburg virus case popped up in Uganda, and deep-seated conflicts are displacing people, causing health authorities to lose track of contacts. People also appear to be afraid of being diagnosed, so they hide to avoid isolation and confinement.
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