Kinshasa, DR Congo (Running Africa) — The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched the world’s first clinical trial evaluating two experimental antiviral treatments for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, as the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to escalate.
The first patient was enrolled in the trial on July 3, 2026, marking a major milestone in the fight against the Bundibugyo virus, a rare Ebola species for which no approved vaccines or treatments currently exist.
The outbreak began in May 2026 and was later declared a public health emergency by the WHO. According to the latest figures released on July 1, the DRC has recorded 1,460 confirmed cases, 150 suspected cases, 452 deaths, and 213 recoveries.
The virus remains concentrated in the eastern provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri, although suspected infections have also been reported in other parts of the country, raising concerns about wider transmission.
The outbreak has also crossed international borders. Uganda has confirmed 20 Ebola cases and two deaths, while France has reported one confirmed imported case.
Health authorities have intensified efforts to contain the virus by expanding contact tracing operations, increasing laboratory testing capacity from four to ten laboratories, and introducing restrictions on public gatherings in several provinces and the capital, Kinshasa.
The WHO and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) have warned that the outbreak has the potential to become one of the largest Ebola epidemics on record after circulating undetected for several weeks before it was officially confirmed.
Containment efforts continue to face significant challenges due to ongoing insecurity in eastern DRC, where the M23 rebel group controls large areas of territory, limiting access for healthcare workers and humanitarian agencies.
The launch of the clinical trial offers new hope for improving Ebola treatment, while health officials stress that rapid surveillance, early diagnosis and international cooperation remain essential to slowing the spread of the deadly virus.
