Experimental Antiviral Pill Trial Underway in Congo's Ebola Outbreak as Death Toll Exceeds 4,000

A clinical trial for obeldesivir, an experimental antiviral pill, is underway in the Democratic Republic of Congo to prevent Ebola in individuals exposed to the Bundibugyo virus, which is responsible for the current outbreak. This development comes as the death toll in the country's deadliest Ebola outbreak has surpassed 4,000, with 8,300 confirmed cases recorded since May. The trial, which began in July, has enrolled over 250 participants, including health workers and relatives of patients. Separately, an Ebola treatment center was reportedly burned down by soldiers, forcing 19,000 people to flee a displacement camp. An infected aid worker from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) was also evacuated to the Netherlands for treatment. While the spread of the disease has slowed in some areas, MSF warns that the actual toll might be higher due to surveillance gaps.