Ebola virus disease: An update on current prevention and management strategies

M A Trad; W Naughton; A Yeung; L Mazlin; M O'sullivan; N Gilroy; D A Fisher; R L Stuart

doi:10.1016/j.jcv.2016.11.005

Ebola virus disease: An update on current prevention and management strategies

J Clin Virol. 2017 Jan:86:5-13. doi: 10.1016/j.jcv.2016.11.005. Epub 2016 Nov 11.

Authors

M A Trad¹, W Naughton², A Yeung², L Mazlin³, M O'sullivan⁴, N Gilroy⁵, D A Fisher⁶, R L Stuart⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Infectious Diseases, Wollongong Hospital, Wollongong, NSW, Australia; Graduate School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia; Medecins Sans Frontieres, Paris, France. Electronic address: m.a.trad@hotmail.com.
² Department of Infectious Diseases, Monash Health, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
³ Medecins Sans Frontieres, Brussels, Belgium.
⁴ Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Pathology West, Westmead Hospital, NSW, Australia; Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁵ Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Pathology West, Westmead Hospital, NSW, Australia.
⁶ Division of Infectious Diseases, University Medicine Cluster, National University Hospital, Singapore; Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
⁷ Department of Infectious Diseases, Monash Health, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Department of Medicine, Monash University, Victoria, Australia.

PMID: 27893999
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2016.11.005

Abstract

Ebola virus disease (EVD) is characterised by systemic viral replication, immuno-suppression, abnormal inflammatory responses, large volume fluid and electrolyte losses, and high mortality in under-resourced settings. There are various therapeutic strategies targeting EVD including vaccines utilizing different antigen delivery methods, antibody-based therapies and antiviral drugs. These therapies remain experimental, but received attention following their use particularly in cases treated outside West Africa during the 2014-15 outbreak, in which 20 (80%) out of 25 patients survived. Emerging data from current trials look promising and are undergoing further study, however optimised supportive care remains the key to reducing mortality from EVD.

Keywords: Ebola; Ebolavirus; Management; Outbreak; Therapeutics; Vaccines.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Africa
Clinical Trials as Topic
Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / prevention & control*
Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / therapy*
Humans