Residents in eastern Congo are placing their hopes on experimental treatments as a new study commenced in early July to combat the ongoing Ebola outbreak. The research, focused on two potential Ebola therapies, aims to fight the still-growing epidemic.
At the Ebola treatment center within Bunia’s Evangelical Medical Center in Ituri province, the trial's launch was characterized by urgency. Ambulances continued to arrive, and healthcare workers donned protective equipment to enter isolation wards, with the research effort unfolding alongside the daily effort to save patients' lives.
The virus responsible for this outbreak, known as Bundibugyo, is less common than other Ebola strains, and specific treatments or vaccines are not currently available for it. According to the World Health Organization's Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, more than 1,400 people have been diagnosed, and 438 have died. The WHO announced that the first participant had been enrolled in the study, which is evaluating the effectiveness of the antiviral remdesivir, the experimental antibody treatment MBP134, or a combination of both in improving survival rates among patients infected with the Bundibugyo virus. Survival will be monitored for 28 days post-treatment initiation, as stated by WHO research adviser Dr. Vasee Moorthy.
The WHO-supported trial is a collaborative effort involving Congo’s national biomedical research institute, INRB, Oxford University, Antwerp’s Institute of Tropical Medicine, and other international health organizations. Initially, the trial is focusing on confirmed Ebola patients receiving care in specialized treatment centers. A subsequent phase is planned to include healthcare workers, close contacts, and others at high risk of infection, according to Professor Yap Boum, head of emergency response at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
Professor Placide Mbala, coordinator of laboratory activities for the current outbreak, indicated that the research phase could extend from three to six months, contingent on the outbreak's progression. For many residents of Bunia, the commencement of this trial provides a rare glimmer of hope amidst weeks of escalating fear. Audrey Tengetenge, a Bunia resident, described the trials as a "light at the end of the tunnel," expressing a strong desire for relief from the "very dangerous disease, which continues to bring us grief."
Gladys Munguro, an Ebola survivor, shared her experience of witnessing fellow patients die during her own treatment. Now recovered, she hopes the new experimental treatments will enhance patient survival and contribute to controlling the outbreak. "This experimental phase is necessary for us," Munguro stated. "I will volunteer as soon as the next phase of the trials begins for high-risk individuals."
However, researchers face challenges, including deep-seated mistrust within some segments of the community. Nelson Dhebi, a shopkeeper in Bunia, voiced support for the research but expressed concern that the treatments might lead to deaths, suggesting that elected representatives should be part of the trials first. "Research should be carried out first and foremost on our elected representatives, as they are the ones who represent us," he said.
Community mistrust is one of several obstacles hindering the response. Overcrowded treatment centers, delays in seeking medical care, and insecurity that restricts access to conflict-affected areas are significant impediments. Pierre Akilimali, incident manager at Congo’s National Institute of Public Health, reported that nearly three out of four Ebola deaths during this outbreak have occurred outside of health facilities.
The study is currently being conducted at Bunia’s Evangelical Medical Centre in Ituri, a region affected by violence, which has also targeted healthcare workers. Officials intend to broaden the trial's reach to other locations once safety and security permit.