By Zoila Palma: The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the start of a clinical trial to evaluate potential treatments for the Bundibugyo species of the Ebola virus, which is responsible for the current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, BBC reports.
The first patient has already been enrolled in the trial, which is sponsored by the WHO and coordinated by scientists from the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale in DR Congo, the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Belgium, and the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.
The trial will test two antiviral drugs in an effort to find effective treatments for the highly infectious virus, for which there are currently no approved vaccines or therapies.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “Even without approved therapeutics, people are recovering from this disease, but of course, we could save many more lives with safe and effective therapeutics in our toolkit.” DR Congo’s Health Minister, Dr. Samuel Roger Kamba, described the launch of the trial as “a significant step forward, offering renewed hope to patients, their families, and affected communities.”
The current Ebola outbreak began in May and has since been declared a public health emergency by the WHO.
As of July 1, the organization reported 1,460 confirmed cases, 150 suspected cases and 452 deaths in DR Congo, while 213 people have recovered. Uganda has also recorded 20 confirmed cases and two deaths, while France has reported one confirmed case.
Congolese health authorities say the outbreak remains concentrated in the eastern provinces of South Kivu, North Kivu and Ituri, although suspected cases have prompted contact-tracing efforts in neighboring provinces.
The post International News: World Health Organization launches Ebola treatment trial as Congo battles deadly outbreak appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the start of a clinical trial to evaluate potential treatments for the Bundibugyo species of the Ebola virus, which is responsible for the current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, BBC reports. The first patient has already been enrolled in the trial, which is
The post International News: World Health Organization launches Ebola treatment trial as Congo battles deadly outbreak appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
