A rare and dangerous strain of Ebola, known as “Bundibugyo,” is spreading across the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. According to the latest data, 336 suspected cases of the disease have already been recorded in the region, 88 of which have ended fatally.
At present, there is no officially approved vaccine or medication against this specific strain of Ebola. Due to the severity of the situation, the World Health Organization (WHO) is planning to urgently launch clinical trials of experimental drugs in the region.
The antiviral drug Remdesivir is considered one of the primary hopes for treatment. Scientists previously tested this drug during outbreaks of other Ebola strains and the COVID-19 pandemic, although its efficacy at the time was quite moderate.
The second and more promising drug is “MBP134,” a unique blend of two different antibodies. Laboratory trials have shown that this drug ensured near-total recovery in animals infected with the Bundibugyo virus that exhibited severe symptoms.
As for prevention, the choice regarding vaccines is far more limited. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is currently considering whether to test “Ervebo”—the world’s only licensed Ebola vaccine—during the ongoing outbreak.
While this vaccine shows exceptionally high efficacy against the most common strain of Ebola, it remains unknown how well it will protect humans against the current strain. Scientists speculate that its efficacy in this case might only turn out to be around 50%.
International medical teams are currently awaiting official authorization from local governments. Launching these trials will allow the world to determine precisely which experimental method actually works in humans to defeat this rare strain of Ebola.
