Experimental Ebola drug trial gets underway in DR Congo

The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a clinical trial of potential treatments for the Ebola virus responsible for the current deadly outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), marking a significant step in efforts to combat the disease, BBC reports.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced that the first patient has been enrolled in the trial in DR Congo.

The study targets the Bundibugyo virus species of Ebola, for which there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments. The virus is highly infectious and has fueled an outbreak that the WHO declared a public health emergency after it began in May.

The trial is sponsored by the WHO and coordinated by scientists from the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale in DR Congo, the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Belgium, and the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.

Speaking to reporters at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Tedros said: "The clinical trial of two therapeutics began, with the enrolment of the first patient."

He stressed the importance of developing effective treatments despite the fact that some patients recover without them.

"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 chief said.

According to the WHO, as of June 30, DR Congo had recorded 1,406 confirmed Ebola cases, 301 suspected cases, and 438 confirmed deaths.

The outbreak has also spread beyond DR Congo's borders. As of July 1, Uganda had reported 20 confirmed cases and two deaths, while France had confirmed one case.

Ebola is caused by a virus that attacks the body's immune system and vital organs. The disease is primarily carried by animals, particularly fruit bats, but human outbreaks can begin when people come into contact with infected animals.

Individuals infected with Ebola become contagious only after symptoms develop. The incubation period ranges from two to 21 days, with symptoms appearing suddenly and typically resembling influenza or malaria, including fever, headache, and fatigue.

There are six known species of the Ebola virus, but only three have been associated with human outbreaks. Because immunity is species-specific, vaccines and treatments must be developed separately for each Ebola virus species.

By Vafa Guliyeva