What about attempts to test their virulence in humans? The approach in the Stanford lab sure sounds like a new form of gain-of-function research to me.

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The patient had traveled to the Democratic Republic of Congo, the health ministry said. Workers are racing to trace those who may have had contact.

That is good news for patients, but officials fear it will make controlling the spread of the disease harder.

Trials are beginning on several drugs that have shown promise in preliminary studies against the virus that is causing the current outbreak.