New evidence-based recommendations seek to improve survival rates and strengthen outbreak response as the Democratic Republic of the Congo confronts a fresh Ebola outbreak.
Abuja: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has released its first comprehensive clinical guidelines for filovirus diseases, bringing all Ebola and Marburg virus infections under a single treatment framework as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) battles a fresh Ebola outbreak.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, WHO said the new guidelines provide 16 evidence-based recommendations to improve patient outcomes and strengthen outbreak response efforts.
The organisation said the guidelines focus on early supportive care and standardised treatment approaches, which are critical in managing diseases with case fatality rates ranging from 25 to 90 per cent.
According to the WHO, the ongoing Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the DRC highlights the urgent need for consistent and effective clinical management protocols.
“The guidelines are designed to help health workers manage patients consistently, while providing facility managers and policymakers with a framework for planning supplies, equipment, laboratory support and staffing during filovirus outbreaks,” the organisation said.
WHO noted that the recommendations were developed through consultations with global experts and informed by the latest scientific evidence and lessons learned from previous Ebola and Marburg outbreaks.
The organisation emphasised that early supportive care remains the cornerstone of treatment, including rapid rehydration, management of dehydration and shock, close monitoring of patients, and prompt treatment of complications.
Among the key recommendations are the early administration of oral and intravenous fluids to address dehydration, as well as the timely use of vasoactive drugs to manage shock based on clinical indicators.
WHO also advised the use of targeted laboratory testing to identify and treat reversible complications such as hypoglycaemia and metabolic disorders before they become life-threatening.
The guidelines further recommend the immediate use of appropriate antibiotics, alongside filovirus treatment, when bacterial infections or sepsis are suspected.
“Frontline health workers should identify signs of clinical deterioration early and intensify monitoring to prevent progression to organ failure,” the organisation said.
WHO added that the framework includes structured follow-up care for survivors to support long-term recovery and address complications associated with viral persistence after infection.
The organisation noted that Africa has recorded 72 Ebola and Marburg outbreaks since the Marburg virus was first identified in 1967, with devastating social, economic and psychological consequences for affected communities.
While previous WHO guidance focused primarily on Ebola virus disease, the new document is the first to provide a unified clinical framework covering all Ebola virus species and Marburg disease.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the guidelines as an example of how scientific evidence can be translated into practical tools that improve patient care during health emergencies.
“These new guidelines are a perfect example of how WHO leverages science to better protect and care for people during outbreaks,” he said.
He described the current Ebola outbreak in the DRC as “a stark reminder” of the importance of delivering holistic, person-centred care during public health emergencies.
WHO urged governments and health authorities to incorporate the 16 recommendations into preparedness and outbreak response plans to improve the quality of care and preserve the dignity of patients affected by Ebola and Marburg virus diseases.