The World Health Organisation (WHO) announced on Friday that the Democratic Republic of Congo has identified 906 suspected cases of Ebola, with 223 suspected fatalities under ongoing investigation. The outbreak is attributed to the Bundibugyo strain of the virus and has been reported to be spreading within Congo, with some instances also occurring in Uganda.

This particular strain does not currently have any approved vaccines or treatments available. The WHO has highlighted the urgent need for effective medical interventions as the outbreak continues to escalate. Health authorities are actively monitoring the situation to mitigate further spread.

Experimental Treatments Under Investigation

WHO mentioned that three experimental drugs may offer potential treatment options for the Bundibugyo strain. These include MBP134, developed by Mapp Biopharmaceutical, maftivimab from Regeneron, and the antiviral remdesivir manufactured by Gilead Sciences. However, all these treatments remain under investigation and require clinical trials to assess their efficacy against this specific strain.

Regeneron has indicated that supplies of maftivimab are already available in Congo and could be deployed swiftly, should WHO decide to incorporate it into treatment strategies. The global health community is actively exploring these options in light of the urgent need for effective responses to the outbreak.

In addition to treatment options, the WHO is considering the use of experimental antiviral medications for preventative measures. One such candidate is Gilead’s obeldesivir, which could serve individuals who have been in close contact with confirmed Ebola cases, but its effectiveness hinges on the swift identification and monitoring of exposed individuals by health authorities.

Vaccine Development Efforts for Bundibugyo Strain

Another candidate, ChAdOx1 Bundibugyo, is being developed by the University of Oxford in collaboration with the Serum Institute of India. This vaccine is anticipated to be ready for testing in two to three months, although further animal studies are required before human trials can commence.

Moreover, the WHO has evaluated Merck’s Ervebo vaccine, the only approved Ebola vaccine globally. However, expert consensus suggests insufficient evidence exists to determine its effectiveness against the Bundibugyo strain. Consequently, it is recommended that Ervebo be used solely within research contexts at this time.

In light of the ongoing crisis, WHO experts have also proposed examining combination therapies that utilise antibody drugs alongside remdesivir in efforts to enhance survival rates for individuals infected with the virus. The collaboration among global health authorities continues as an essential measure to address the outbreak effectively.

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