Researchers Begin Trial of Two Experimental Treatments for Bundibugyo Ebola Outbreak in Eastern Congo

Researchers launched a study of two experimental Ebola treatments at the Evangelical Medical Center in Bunia, Ituri province, on Thursday. The trial is testing the antiviral remdesivir, the antibody treatment MBP134, or a combination of both in patients confirmed to have the Bundibugyo virus.

The World Health Organization announced the same day that the first participant had been enrolled. Survival will be tracked for 28 days after treatment begins, according to WHO research adviser Dr. Vasee Moorthy.

Background on the Outbreak The Bundibugyo virus has no approved treatments or vaccines. More than 1,400 people have been diagnosed and 438 have died, the head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said Thursday. The current trial is limited to patients inside specialized treatment centers.

A second phase will include healthcare workers and close contacts at high risk of infection, said professor Yap Boum, head of emergency response at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

Some residents expressed hope that the trial could improve survival rates. " Gladys Munguro, who survived Ebola and was discharged two weeks ago, said she will volunteer for the next phase. Other residents voiced concerns about safety and trust. Nelson Dhebi, a shopkeeper in Bunia, said research should first be conducted on elected representatives.

Nearly three out of four Ebola deaths in this outbreak have occurred outside health centers, Pierre Akilimali, incident manager at Congo's National Institute of Public Health, said Friday. Officials plan to expand the trial to additional sites once security conditions allow.