GENEVA: A critical treatment trial for the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) enrolled its first patient on Thursday, marking a significant milestone in combating the epidemic, according to World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Currently, there are no approved vaccines or treatments for the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. The ongoing outbreak has resulted in more than 1,400 cases in the DRC, including 438 deaths. Over the past two weeks, the country has recorded an average of 38 new confirmed cases per day.
Experimental Drug Trial Details
The large-scale trial is expected to take months to complete and will include more than 1,000 patients. It will evaluate the efficacy of two treatments:
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MBP134: An experimental antibody developed by Mapp Biopharmaceutical, evaluated as a standalone treatment.
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Combination Therapy: MBP134 used in combination with Gilead Sciences’ antiviral drug, remdesivir.
The WHO confirmed there are sufficient drug supplies for the trials. The organization is in ongoing discussions with the United States (which donated the MBP134 supplies) and Gilead to ensure widespread patient access if the drugs prove safe and effective. Gilead announced it has donated over 2,000 vials of remdesivir specifically for the trial, adding to the 2,000 vials it provided for emergency use in June.
Progress Amidst Violence and Mistrust
While the trial represents major progress, Dr. Tedros warned of the severe operational difficulties on the ground. He cited a recent violent attack on an Ebola treatment center in Ituri province that left two people dead.
“Despite all this progress, we continue to face significant challenges, including mistrust and violence,” Dr. Tedros stated.
Despite these hurdles, the broader response mechanism is showing measurable improvement:
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Testing & Tracing: Ten laboratories are now equipped to test for Ebola, and follow-ups are being successfully conducted for 80% (four in five) of known contacts, though authorities stress the need to identify more contacts per case.
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Hospital Capacity: Treatment capacity has been expanded to 650 available beds. However, with approximately 96% of these beds currently occupied, the WHO and its partners are actively working to add 300 additional beds to the network.
Cruise Ship Hantavirus Outbreak Declared Over
Separately, the WHO officially declared the end of a hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship. The declaration came after the last identified contact of an exposed person completed their quarantine period and tested negative.
The outbreak involved the Andes virus—a rare hantavirus strain that typically circulates in Argentina and Chile. The maritime cluster ultimately resulted in 13 infections and three deaths.
