Outbreaks of filovirus hemorrhagic fever: time to refocus on the patient.
In the 40 years since the recognition of filoviruses as agents of lethal human disease, there have been no specific advances in antiviral therapies or vaccines and few clinical studies on the efficacy of supportive care. On 20 September 2006, experts from 14 countries representing 68 institutions integrally involved in the response to outbreaks of filovirus hemorrhagic fever gathered at the National Microbiology Laboratory of the Public Health Agency of Canada in Winnipeg to discuss possible remedies for this grim situation, in a unique workshop entitled "Marburg and Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever: Feasibility of Prophylaxis and Therapy." A summary of the opportunities for and challenges to improving treatment of filovirus hemorrhagic fevers is presented here.
Bausch
Daniel G
DG
Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. dbausch@tulane.edu
Feldmann
Heinz
H
Geisbert
Thomas W
TW
Bray
Mike
M
Sprecher
A G
AG
Boumandouki
Paul
P
Rollin
Pierre E
PE
Roth
Cathy
C
D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D016563:Filoviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D018702:Filoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006482:Hemorrhagic Fevers, Viral / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D011481:Protective Clothing; D012106:Research / Q000639:trends; D014765:Viral Vaccines
D014765:Viral Vaccines