Experimental treatments[edit]

Main article: Ebola virus disease treatment research

There is as yet no known effective medication, vaccine, or treatment. However, should an
effective vaccine be developed only moderate levels of coverage are needed to control
epidemics (e.g. 20% coverage of a highly effective vaccine would likely be adequate [288]) . The
director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has stated that the
scientific community is still in the early stages of understanding how infection with the Ebola virus
can be treated and prevented.[289][290][291]
As of February 2015 a number of experimental treatments are undergoing clinical trials.[292][293]
[294]

One of these, Favipiravir (Avigan), was successful in initial trials and authorities in Guinea

have approved its wider use.[295] On 1 February 2015, a clinical drug trial in Liberia was halted due
to lack of patients. Health authorities have also reported that the falling number of patients may
affect the plans for the testing of the experimental drug ZMapp and two vaccines as well. [296] On
22 April, it was reported that TKM-Ebola-Makona had worked by protecting three highly infected
monkeys from the virus.[297]

Experimental preventative vaccines[edit]

Main article: Ebola vaccine
Several Ebola vaccine candidates had been developed in the decade prior to 2014, and had
been shown to protect nonhuman primates (usually macaques) against lethal infection, but none
has yet been approved for clinical use in humans. [298][299] In response to this epidemic, the clinical
trial process has been accelerated; two of the potential vaccines cAd3-EBOZ and VSVZEBOV progressed to mass trials early in 2015.[300] Part of the trial will incorporate a ring
vaccination strategy designed to test if vaccines might be useful for stamping out hot spots in
outbreak settings.[301] As of 7 March, large scale vaccine trials have started in Guinea and Liberia.
[302]

On 25 March, it was reported that the vaccine raised no safety concerns; the rVSV-ZEBOV

vaccine candidate invoked an anti-viral response in all the subjects. [303] On 8 April, two new
vaccines by Merck, that in initial form caused joint pain, have been reintroduced and have
passed initial tests.[304]

Potential diagnostic tests[edit]

One issue which hinders control of Ebola is that diagnostic tests which are currently available
require specialised equipment and highly trained personnel. Since there are few suitable testing
centres in West Africa, this leads to delay in diagnosis. In December, a conference in Geneva will
aim to work out which diagnostic tools could be to identify Ebola reliably and more quickly. The

meeting, convened by the WHO and the non-profit Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics,
seeks to identify tests that can be used by untrained staff, do not require electricity or can run on
batteries or solar power and use reagents that can withstand temperatures of 40 C.[305]
As of February 2015 a number of diagnostic tests are under trial:

Diagnostics-in-a-Suitcase, based on Recombinase Polymerase Amplification (RPA). The

new equipment, about the size of a laptop and solar-powered, allows testing to be done in
remote areas; testing commenced in Guinea during January 2015.[306]

In December 2014, the FDA approved LightMix (R) Ebola Zaire rRT-PCR Test for
emergency use on patients with symptoms of Ebola.[307]

Massachusetts Institute of Technology has developed a 10-minute Ebola test using

Matrix Multiplexed Diagnostic (MMDx) technology. This still has to complete testing to gain
FDA approval.[308]

Corgenix Medical Corp announced on 26 February that health regulators had approved
its rapid Ebola test for emergency use. The ReEBOV Antigen Rapid Test involves putting a
drop of blood on a paper strip and waiting for at least 15 minutes for a reaction. [309]

On 29 March, a new rapid Ebola virus diagnostic kit/test was developed by British military
scientists and NHS in Sierra Leone.[3