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Congo Begins Ebola Treatment Trials
Confirmed
In Short: The Democratic Republic of Congo has started trials for potential Ebola treatments, marking a significant step in combating the current outbreak, which has spread to three eastern provinces.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has initiated a trial of potential treatments for the Ebola virus, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The first patient has been enrolled in the trial, and WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the news on Thursday.
Dr Samuel Roger Kamba, the country's Health Minister, expressed hope, stating that the launch 'represents a significant step forward, offering renewed hope to patients, their families, and affected communities.
The current outbreak, which has been spreading for weeks before confirmation, is currently restricted to South Kivu, North Kivu, and Ituri provinces. The health ministry has improved diagnosis in the affected region.
What's confirmed
What's still developing
- A trial of potential treatments for the species of virus behind the current deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has begun, the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced.
- The first patient has been enrolled in DR Congo, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Thursday.
- DR Congo's Health Minister Dr Samuel Roger Kamba said the launch "represents a significant step forward, offering renewed hope to patients, their families, and affected communities".
- Congolese health authorities have said the outbreak is currently restricted to three eastern provinces - South Kivu, North Kivu and Ituri.
- DR Congo's health ministry said it has improved diagnosis across the affected region.
- According to both Africa CDC and US public health authorities, the current outbreak has the potential to be one of the largest ever, because it was spreading for weeks before it was confirmed to be Ebola.
- Mbala-Kingebeni said data from animal studies have indicated Ervebo might provide some cross-protection against Bundibugyo, which has no licensed vaccines or treatments.
- He also cited anecdotal reports that some health workers in DRC who received the Ervebo vaccine during a 2018 Ebola outbreak and have been infected in the current outbreak aren’t getting as sick as colleagues who…