The first patients have been enrolled in an Ebola treatment trial in the DRC's Ituri region, testing two drugs in a programme launched just six weeks after the outbreak was declared a public health emergency.
Key facts
- First patients have been enrolled in an Ebola treatment trial in the Ituri region of the DRC.
- Two drugs are being trialled, with hopes of reducing mortality rates.
- The trial was set up just six weeks after the outbreak was declared a public health emergency.
- The WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on 17 May.
- There is currently no approved drug to treat patients in the outbreak.
The first patients have been enrolled in an Ebola treatment trial in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to the Guardian, offering hope of new options for medical teams working to save lives during the current outbreak.
Two drugs are being trialled in the Ituri region, in a programme that scientists say was established at record pace. The research began just six weeks after the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on 17 May.
At present there is no approved drug to help the medical teams responding to the outbreak. Scientists hope that could change within months as the trial progresses and results become available.
The stated aim of the programme is to reduce mortality rates among those infected. The Guardian reports that the speed of setting up and starting this kind of research is unprecedented for an outbreak response.
The trial is taking place in the Ituri region, one of the areas affected by the current outbreak. Enrolling patients so soon after an emergency declaration reflects an accelerated effort to bring potential treatments to affected communities.
Why it matters
Ebola outbreaks can be deadly, and until now there has been no approved drug to treat patients in this outbreak. A treatment trial launched at record speed could provide medical teams with new tools to reduce deaths, potentially within months.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Ebola treatment trial taking place?
The trial is taking place in the Ituri region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to the Guardian.
How quickly was the trial set up?
The trial was set up and began enrolling patients just six weeks after the outbreak was declared a public health emergency of international concern by the WHO on 17 May.
How many drugs are being tested?
Two drugs are being trialled, with the aim of reducing mortality rates among Ebola patients.