The World Health Organization (WHO), with support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), convened a five-day Filovirus Disease Optimized Supportive Care Workshop in Brazzaville to update and harmonize clinical management guidelines for filovirus diseases (FVD). The workshop brought together 50 clinicians, researchers, and public health specialists from around the world to strengthen preparedness and improve patient outcomes, particularly in Africa, which continues to bear the heaviest burden of FVD outbreaks. In 2025 alone, outbreaks were reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda.
During the workshop, experts reviewed current standards of care, assessed emerging clinical evidence, and identified gaps in existing guidance to develop evidence-informed recommendations for patient management. The focus included optimizing fluid therapy, patient monitoring, and treatment of severe complications such as bleeding and renal failure. Special attention was given to vulnerable populations, including pregnant women and children, as well as care for survivors. The workshop aimed to create a clinical toolkit for frontline clinicians and key performance indicators for policymakers to improve care quality during outbreaks.
The program also featured a one-day training on Good Clinical Practice and WHO core clinical trial standard operating procedures. This training is designed to enhance the readiness of principal investigators and research teams to rapidly and ethically implement clinical trials during outbreaks, which are essential for evaluating the safety and effectiveness of candidate vaccines and therapeutics.
WHO emphasized that Marburg and Ebola viruses remain among the most lethal pathogens, with significant social, economic, and psychological impacts on affected communities. In the absence of approved vaccines and treatments for some filovirus diseases, standardized, evidence-based supportive care is critical for patient survival. The workshop’s outcome will include consolidated clinical management guidelines and an optimized supportive care toolkit suitable for all resource settings.
Once finalized, the updated guidance will be shared with WHO Member States and integrated into national preparedness planning, training, and simulation exercises. WHO will continue to work with countries and partners to strengthen clinical capacity, advance research on filovirus therapeutics and vaccines, and ensure consistent, high-quality care during future outbreaks.
