The latest outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo has reached 1,528 cases as the community spread continues. At least 492 people have died. Congo's public health authorities said on Saturday that 239 people have recovered so far. 628 people are being treated in isolation centers or hospitals. 185 suspected cases have also been identified. The report said that the number of new infections has been increasing in recent weeks. The epidemic count showed that more than 300 new infections were confirmed per week in the 25th and 26th weeks. This indicates that the infection is still actively spreading in the community, officials said. The report cited challenges including community non-cooperation in collecting post-mortem samples and limited capacity of Ebola treatment centres, particularly in North Kivu. Ineffective contact tracing and delays in laboratory testing have also hampered efforts to contain the outbreak. The report also said that the pandemic has been hampered by a lack of medicines and infection control materials, insecurity and limited access to health facilities in some affected areas. The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday that a clinical trial of a drug for the Bundibugyo virus has begun in Congo. The trial has been launched at the Evangelical Medical Centre in Bunia, the province hardest hit by Ebola. Professor Yap Boom, head of emergency response at the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the current trial is focused on confirmed Ebola patients being treated in specialist treatment facilities.

WHO chief Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the trial was a major milestone in the fight against the pandemic. The trial could take months to complete and will involve more than 1 , 000

patients.

The trial will use Map Biopharmaceutical's experimental antibody

'

MBP134

' and Gilead Sciences' antiviral drug ' remdesivir '

separately and in combination. The WHO said there is sufficient supply of the drugs needed for the trial. If the trial is successful, the WHO will also face the challenge of making the drug readily available. For this, the WHO has collaborated with various companies. According to Dr. Vasi Murthy, WHO research advisor , patients will be monitored for 28 days after starting treatment. This trial, which is being supported by the WHO, is a collaboration between the National Biomedical Research Institute of Congo , the University of Oxford in the UK ,

the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp and other international health groups.

He said that the second phase of the trial will include health workers , people who have come into contact with the infected and other people who are at high risk of infection. Local residents have responded that this trial has brought hope. Bunia resident Audrey Tengetenge said

, ' This trial is like the light at the end of the tunnel . We hope that everything will move forward soon and we will have relief soon . ' Gladys Mungura, who was discharged from an Ebola treatment center just two weeks ago after recovering, said she had seen other patients die while she was being treated. She expressed hope that new treatments being tested will increase the chances of patients surviving and help bring the outbreak under control . ' This experimental phase is essential for us ,' Mungura told The Associated Press

,'

I will be ready to volunteer as soon as the next phase of the trial for high-risk people begins . ' But some people have also expressed skepticism . Nelson Dhebi, a shopkeeper in Bunia, said he supports scientific research and hopes for positive results.

But he fears the test could lead to death. ' First of all, our elected representatives should be tested, , because they represent us, ,' he said.