More than 250 join Congo Ebola post-exposure trial

AP reports that more than 250 exposed contacts have joined the EBO-PEP study during Congo's Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak, for which no vaccine or treatment is approved. The trial is testing Gilead's experimental oral antiviral obeldesivir and aims to recruit nearly 1,000 adults and children over 12 who had contact with a confirmed case within five days but have no symptoms; half receive placebo. Participants are followed in person daily for 21 days and receive a final phone call at day 42, with supportive care started immediately if symptoms appear. The goal is post-exposure prevention, not cure. At this stage it is being evaluated and must not be described as proven effective.