WHO Launches Ebola Treatment Trial As DR Congo Battles Deadly Outbreak

The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a clinical trial of potential treatments for the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus amid the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced that the first patient has been enrolled in the study, marking a significant step in efforts to combat the highly infectious virus, for which there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments.

The trial is sponsored by the WHO and coordinated by the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale in the DRC, the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Belgium, and the University of Oxford. Researchers will evaluate two antiviral drugs to determine their effectiveness against the disease.

“Even without approved therapeutics, people are recovering from this disease, but we could save many more lives with safe and effective treatments,” Tedros said.

DR Congo’s Health Minister, Dr. Samuel Roger Kamba, described the launch of the trial as a major milestone, saying it offers renewed hope to patients, their families, and affected communities.

The outbreak, which began in May, has continued to spread across eastern DR Congo. As of July 1, the WHO reported 1,460 confirmed cases, 150 suspected cases, 452 deaths, and 213 recoveries. Uganda has also recorded 20 confirmed infections and two deaths, while France has reported one confirmed imported case.

Health officials say the outbreak is concentrated in the eastern provinces of South Kivu, North Kivu, and Ituri. However, authorities are investigating additional cases linked to Tshopo and Haut-Uele provinces after infected individuals reportedly travelled from affected areas.

To contain the virus, officials have intensified contact tracing, expanded laboratory testing from four to ten facilities, and imposed restrictions on public gatherings in several provinces, including Kinshasa.

Health experts warn that ongoing conflict in eastern DR Congo is complicating response efforts, while the delayed detection of the outbreak has increased the risk of wider transmission.

Ebola is a severe viral disease spread through contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals. Symptoms typically appear between two and 21 days after infection and initially resemble malaria or influenza, making early detection challenging.