WHO Issues New Guidelines On Ebola, Marburg Care

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has released its first comprehensive guidelines for the clinical management of filovirus diseases, including all forms of Ebola and Marburg virus infections.

The development came as the Democratic Republic of the Congo battles an Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus.

Filovirus is a family of single-stranded negative-sense RNA viruses in the order Mononegativirales. Ebola virus and Marburg virus are two members of the family that are commonly known.

The new guidelines, released on Wednesday via its official X, emphasised early supportive care as a critical factor in improving survival rates and health outcomes for patients. They contain 16 evidence-based recommendations aimed at strengthening clinical management and outbreak response.

According to WHO, Ebola and Marburg diseases remain among the world’s deadliest infectious diseases, with fatality rates ranging from 25 to 90 per cent in severe outbreaks. It also noted that since the discovery of the Marburg virus in 1967, Africa has recorded 72 outbreaks of Ebola and Marburg diseases.

The global health leader noted that beyond their health impact, the diseases often inflict significant socio-economic and psychological burdens on affected communities. It added that in the absence of licensed vaccines and treatments for Marburg virus disease, as well as Bundibugyo and Sudan virus diseases, prompt supportive care remains the most effective intervention for improving patient survival.

WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the guidelines demonstrate how scientific evidence can be translated into practical measures that protect lives during health emergencies.

“These new guidelines are a perfect example of how WHO leverages science to better protect and care for people during outbreaks and health emergencies,” he said.

“The current Bundibugyo virus outbreak is a stark reminder of the need for diligent, holistic and person-focused medical care, to save lives and preserve human dignity. We encourage governments and authorities to integrate these new recommendations into preparedness and outbreak response, to ensure high-quality care for everyone,” he added.

WHO further stated that the guidelines were developed through consultations with global experts and are based on the latest scientific evidence and lessons from recent Ebola and Marburg outbreaks.

“These guidelines translate lessons learned from recent disease outbreaks into evidence-based, clinical recommendations to improve patient survival and outcomes,” WHO said.

It also said the recommendations are intended to guide frontline health workers, standardise clinical practices, and assist health facility administrators and policymakers in planning and responding effectively to outbreaks through adequate medical supplies, laboratory support, equipment, and personnel.

According to WHO, the key recommendations include prioritising laboratory tests to detect and manage complications such as hypoglycaemia and metabolic disorders; rapid treatment of dehydration through oral and intravenous rehydration.

Others include, early use of intravenous fluids and vasoactive medications to manage shock; prompt administration of antibiotics where bacterial infections are present; and structured follow-up care for survivors to support recovery and prevent further infections linked to viral persistence.

WHO stressed that early detection, rapid referral and optimised supportive care remain central to managing Bundibugyo virus disease and other filovirus infections. It also noted that effective supportive care not only reduces complications and deaths but also provides the foundation for evaluating potential antiviral treatments through clinical research.

The global health body added that the new clinical guidelines complement existing WHO operational tools and recommendations designed to ensure safe and effective care during filovirus disease outbreaks.

“These clinical guidelines complement existing WHO guidance and operational tools designed to support safe and effective care delivery,” it said.