World Health Organization Issues Comprehensive Guidelines for Ebola and Marburg Disease Treatment
As the Democratic Republic of the Congo battles an Ebola disease outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus, the World Health Organization (WHO) has released its first comprehensive guidelines for the clinical management of filovirus disease which include all types of Ebola and Marburg viruses.
The new guidelines highlight the importance of early supportive care to improve patient survival and health outcomes, outlining 16 evidence-based recommendations.
Ebola and Marburg diseases are serious and often fatal, with case fatality rates ranging from 25% to 90% in the most severe outbreaks.
Since 1967, when Marburg virus was first discovered, there have been 72 outbreaks of Ebola and Marburg diseases reported in Africa.
The guidelines provide practical recommendations to support frontline health workers in identifying clinical deterioration, managing dehydration and shock, improving patient monitoring, delivering critical supportive interventions safely, and providing structured follow-up for patients who recovered from Ebola and Marburg diseases.
Some of the key recommendations include:
- Using prioritized clinical laboratory tests to monitor patients with filovirus disease, to identify and manage treatable problems (such as hypoglycaemia, metabolic disruptions).
- Quickly and accurately treating dehydration in patients with filovirus disease using oral and intravenous rehydration.
- Promoting early and precise use of appropriate medications and supportive measures.
The practical recommendations aim to guide health workers when caring for patients, to harmonize clinical approaches, and enable health facility administrators and policy makers to better plan, prepare for and respond to filovirus disease outbreaks through adequate provision of medical supplies, biomedical equipment, laboratory support, and human resources.
