Current clinical trials are exploring early treatment with antivirals like remdesivir for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which is characterized by a prolonged disease course. This outbreak poses urgent care challenges, as many patients can spread the virus while still mobile, complicating containment efforts.
Early treatment with antivirals ... disease course, prompting current clinical trials. The outbreak’s growth highlights urgent care challenges, with many deaths occurring before treatment and increased virus spread outside known transmission chains. ... Some doctors call it “walking Ebola” – symptoms of the rare Bundibugyo ... Early treatment with antivirals like remdesivir may improve survival due to the virus’ prolonged disease course, prompting current clinical trials. The outbreak’s growth highlights urgent care challenges, with many deaths occurring before treatment and increased virus spread outside known transmission chains. ... Some doctors call it “walking Ebola” – symptoms of the rare Bundibugyo strain appear to worsen slowly, leaving patients sick enough to spread the virus but not so unwell to stop them moving through their communities. Symptoms of the Bundibugyo strain seem to worsen slowly, so patients spread it as they're well enough to move about. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com. If Bundibugyo gives doctors a longer opportunity to intervene before reaching that point, antiviral drugs may have a better chance of altering the course of the disease. The possibility has renewed interest in antiviral drugs such as Gilead Sciences’ remdesivir, which Levine’s lab found was more active against Bundibugyo than Zaire Ebola in petri-dish experiments. Researchers in July began testing remdesivir alongside Mapp Biopharmaceutical’s antibody therapy MBP134 in a World Health Organization-sponsored clinical trial in Congo, while a separate study is evaluating Gilead’s experimental oral antiviral obeldesivir in people recently exposed to the virus. Patients need aggressive fluids, treatment for shock, respiratory support and management of organ failure alongside antiviral drugs and antibodies. The Bundibugyo outbreak could similarly improve understanding of when antivirals work best, how to tailor supportive care and whether slowing the virus early changes the course of disease. If Levine’s hypothesis proves correct, the virus’ slower progression may give clinicians more time to deliver the intensive supportive care and antiviral medicines that have helped reduce Ebola mortality over the past decade.
Original title: “‘Walking Ebola’ helps explain why Congo’s outbreak is so hard to stop – and how to treat it | The Straits Times”