title: Clinical manifestations and case management of Ebola haemorrhagic fever caused by a newly identified virus strain, Bundibugyo, Uganda, 2007-2008.
abstract: A confirmed Ebola haemorrhagic fever (EHF) outbreak in Bundibugyo, Uganda, November 2007-February 2008, was caused by a putative new species (Bundibugyo ebolavirus). It included 93 putative cases, 56 laboratory-confirmed cases, and 37 deaths (CFR = 25%). Study objectives are to describe clinical manifestations and case management for 26 hospitalised laboratory-confirmed EHF patients. Clinical findings are congruous with previously reported EHF infections. The most frequently experienced symptoms were non-bloody diarrhoea (81%), severe headache (81%), and asthenia (77%). Seven patients reported or were observed with haemorrhagic symptoms, six of whom died. Ebola care remains difficult due to the resource-poor setting of outbreaks and the infection-control procedures required. However, quality data collection is essential to evaluate case definitions and therapeutic interventions, and needs improvement in future epidemics. Organizations usually involved in EHF case management have a particular responsibility in this respect.
authors.affiliation: Medical Departments of Médecins Sans Frontières, Barcelona, Spain. roddypd@gmail.com
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roddy
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.forename: Maria D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Van Kerkhove
authors.forename: Julius
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lutwama
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wamala
authors.forename: Zabulon
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yoti
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Colebunders
authors.forename: Pedro Pablo
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Palma
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sterk
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jeffs
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Herp
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borchert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019090:Case Management; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D029043:Ebolavirus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult