Ebola treatment trial begins in Congo as outbreak continues to grow
Scientists are testing two drugs that could help save lives as the deadliest Ebola outbreak ever recorded keeps spreading.
Scientists in the Democratic Republic of Congo have started testing two drugs that may help treat Ebola, a deadly disease that is spreading rapidly across the country. The trial began on Thursday at a treatment center in the city of Bunia, in eastern Congo's Ituri province. More than 1,400 people have already been diagnosed with Ebola, and 438 have died. Researchers hope that one or both drugs could help more patients survive.
Two different drugs are being tested in the trial. The first is called remdesivir, which was already approved to treat COVID-19 and may also work against the type of Ebola virus spreading now, known as Bundibugyo. The second drug is called MBP134, and it uses special proteins called antibodies that are designed to attack the Ebola virus. Scientists will check whether either drug — or both together — can help more patients live.
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, announced the start of the trial on Thursday. He said it offers real hope of finding concrete results for the communities affected by the outbreak. The WHO is working with Congo's national research institute, Oxford University in Britain, and the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Belgium. Together, they will lead the study.
The trial could take many months and may involve up to 1,000 patients. However, if one drug proves to be very effective, researchers may reach a conclusion faster and with fewer participants. After someone joins the trial, doctors will track whether they survive during the 28 days after starting treatment. A second phase will include healthcare workers and others at high risk of infection.
People in Bunia have mixed feelings about the trial. Audrey Tengetenge called it 'a light at the end of the tunnel' and said she hopes the process moves quickly so people can find relief. Gladys Munguro, who survived Ebola and left a treatment center just two weeks ago, said she watched other patients die and plans to volunteer for the next phase. Not everyone agrees, though — some residents worry the drugs could cause more harm, and officials say the trial will expand to other areas once it is safe to do so.
"I hope everything moves very quickly so that we can find relief. We want nothing more than an end to this very dangerous disease, which continues to bring us grief."
Comprehension quiz preview
1. Where did the Ebola treatment trial begin?
2. How many people had died from the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak when the trial began?
3. What is the name of the Ebola virus strain causing the current outbreak in Congo?