Clinical Trials Launch in Ituri Province Epicenter
Clinical trials targeting the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus disease officially began on July 2, 2026, at the Evangelical Medical Center in Bunia, capital of Ituri province, Democratic Republic of Congo. The trials aim to establish a standard treatment for this rare strain driving the current outbreak, which has caused nearly 1,500 confirmed cases and more than 450 deaths as of July 3, according to DRC Ministry of Health data.
Dr. Placide Mbala of the National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB), leading the trials, said they could take between three and six months depending on the disease’s evolution. He emphasized the importance of removing ambiguity around the research amid reports of community resistance in some areas.
Molecules Under Investigation
According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), three molecules will be studied: Remdesivir and MBP134 for confirmed Bundibugyo virus patients, and Obeldsivir—a post-exposure prophylactic for individuals exposed to the virus, including frontline responders.
Dieudonné Mwamba Kazadi, director of the National Institute of Public Health and coordinator of the response to the DRC’s 17th Ebola epidemic, stated that research is needed to find specific drugs to treat this Ebola disease and identify an effective molecule for patients.
Community Response and Security Challenges
Djodjo Mbusa, a Bunia resident, welcomed the trials, saying they would break the chain of transmission and contribute to regional health security. However, attacks on Ebola treatment centers and response teams have complicated efforts. Dr. Freddy Kibwana, head of the Ebola Treatment Center at the Evangelical Medical Center, strongly discouraged such actions, calling them self-destructive.
As of July 3, more than 200 people have recovered following symptom care, but other confirmed and suspected cases remain at large due to attacks on health facilities.
Outbreak Context and Historical Parallels
Declared on May 15, 2026, the outbreak is centered in Mongbwalu, Rwampara, and Bunia in Ituri province, northeastern DRC. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates the disease spread weeks before detection but remains optimistic—over 100 people have recovered, and with early detection and supportive care, many can survive.
Dr. Mbala noted that clinical trials in North Kivu (2019-2020) led to a vaccine for the Zaire strain of Ebola. Experts like Boghuma Titanji, assistant professor at Emory University School of Medicine, highlighted that genetic differences between Ebola strains affect diagnosis, treatment, and control, and that market incentives have been lacking for developing vaccines and therapeutics against the Bundibugyo virus, despite its known outbreak potential for nearly two decades.
Cases have also been reported in Uganda, which shares borders with the DRC. According to the Africa CDC, this outbreak is the fastest in history to reach 1,000 confirmed cases, doing so within a month.