The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a clinical trial for two Ebola treatments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and granted emergency approval to the first molecular diagnostic test for the Bundibugyo virus.
Key points
- The clinical trial involves partnerships with the National Institute for Biomedical Research, the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Belgium, and the University of Oxford.
- The outbreak has resulted in over 1,400 confirmed cases and 438 deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since May 2026.
- Laboratory testing capacity in affected provinces has increased to a network of 10 facilities capable of performing over 2,000 tests per day.
- The newly approved diagnostic test identifies the virus's genetic material in blood samples to facilitate rapid and accurate infection confirmation.
Why it matters
These medical advancements are critical for managing the ongoing Ebola outbreak, which the WHO has declared a public health emergency of international concern.
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