Welcome to Health Flava Savouring the true essence of life.
A trial of a potential drug to treat Ebola has started at a Medecins Sans Frontieres centre in Liberia.
The antiviral drug - Brincidofovir - is being tested on Ebola patients on a voluntary basis. People who do not consent to it receive standard care.
A study involving a similar class of drug - Favipiravir - began in Guinea in December.
Oxford University scientists leading the research say initial results are expected in the next few months.
More than 8,000 people have died from Ebola during this outbreak, the majority in the worst-affected countries of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
Prof Peter Horby, one of the chief investigators at Oxford University, said: “Conducting clinical trials of investigational drugs in the midst of a humanitarian crisis is a new experience for us all, but we are determined not to fail the people of West Africa.
“We are trying a number of different approaches simultaneously as there is only a short window of opportunity to tackle this virus during the outbreak.”
Scientists at Oxford say brincidofovir was chosen because it is effective against Ebola-infected cells in laboratories, has been deemed safe in more than 1,000 patients in trials against other viruses and can be given conveniently as a tablet.
Researchers aim to recruit more than 100 people and will compare death rates at the centre before and after the trial.
