The race to produce a rapid antigen test to diagnose the rare Bundibugyo Ebola virus has closed in on five possible manufacturers that could begin field trials in eastern Congo within weeks, a global alliance for diagnostics leading the effort told Reuters.
A rapid test would let health workers get results on the spot, which would help them identify and isolate cases and better contain the ongoing outbreak that has killed more than 400 people across three Congolese provinces.
There is no rapid test currently approved for the Bundibugyo virus, and officials often have to wait days for laboratory test results.
