The recommendations were published against the background of the struggle of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with the outbreak of the Bundibugio strain of the Ebola virus. The number of confirmed cases has increased to 837, including 196 deaths. There is currently no approved treatment or vaccine for this strain of Ebola.
According to the WHO, it can take up to nine months to create a vaccine. Neighboring Uganda has reported 19 cases, 14 of which are related to people who have recently arrived from the DRC. The country has also recorded two deaths related to the outbreak. The new guidelines emphasize the importance of early supportive care to improve patient survival and improve treatment outcomes, including 16 evidence-based recommendations. «These new recommendations are a perfect example of how WHO uses science to better protect and care for people during disease outbreaks and health emergencies. The current outbreak of the Bundibugio virus is a stark reminder of the need for thorough, holistic, and human-centered medical care to save lives and preserve human dignity. We urge governments and authorities to integrate these new recommendations into outbreak preparedness and response plans to ensure quality medical care for everyone», says WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Developed through global expert consultations and based on the most up-to-date scientific evidence and clinical knowledge, the recommendations translate lessons learned from the recent outbreaks of Ebola and Marburg diseases into practical advice for improving patient care. WHO has previously issued several guidelines on clinical care and therapy specific to Ebola virus disease. The new guidelines were developed primarily to guide healthcare professionals in patient care, harmonize clinical approaches, and enable healthcare administrators and policy makers to better plan, prepare, and respond to outbreaks of filovirus diseases through the appropriate provision of medical supplies, biomedical equipment, laboratory support, and human resources.
The practical recommendations aim to support frontline healthcare professionals in identifying clinical deterioration, treating dehydration and shock, improving patient monitoring, safely conducting critical supportive interventions, and providing structured follow-up for patients recovering from Ebola and Marburg diseases.
Some of the key recommendations include:
the use of priority clinical laboratory tests to monitor patients with filovirus infection in order to identify and treat correctable problems (such as hypoglycemia, metabolic disorders);
rapid and accurate treatment of dehydration in patients with filovirus infection using oral and intravenous rehydration;
promotion of early and accurate use of intravenous fluids and vasoactive drugs for the treatment of shock in patients with filovirus infection (low blood pressure caused by infection, which, if left untreated, leads to multiple organ failure), under the supervision of serial monitoring of vital signs and perfusion markers;
ensuring that if patients with filovirus infection have other bacterial infections, including bacterial sepsis, appropriate antibiotic treatment;
providing structured follow-up care to patients who have had a filovirus infection to strengthen their health and prevent further infections related to the persistence of the virus in people who have recovered.
«In Bundibugio virus disease, as in other filovirus diseases, early detection, prompt referral to specialists, and optimized supportive care remain fundamental components of patient care. Optimized supportive care can reduce the number of complications and create a foundation on which all other clinical interventions are built», says WHO.
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