Ebola Treatment

For people with Ebola, treatment involves providing relief of Ebola symptoms while the body fights the infection. This type of treatment is known as supportive care. Ebola treatment can involve the use of intravenous fluids, antibiotics, and oxygen. Treatment may also include the use of medications to control fever, help the blood clot, and maintain blood pressure. Even with such supportive care, death occurs in 50 to 90 percent of people with Ebola.

Background on Ebola

Ebola Treatment: An Overview

There are currently no proven Ebola treatment options that can kill the Ebola virus. Ebola treatment focuses on providing relief of Ebola symptoms as the body fights the virus. This is called supportive care.

Supportive Care as Ebola Treatment

Ebola treatment can include supportive care such as:

Intravenous (IV) fluids to maintain fluids and electrolytes (sodium, potassium, and chloride)
Oxygen and devices that help with breathing
Medications to control fever, help the blood clot, and maintain blood pressure
Antibiotics to prevent secondary infections from bacteria
Good nursing care.

Outcome Following Ebola Treatment

Death occurs in 50 to 90 percent of Ebola cases. Ebola research scientists do not understand why some patients are able to recover from Ebola hemorrhagic fever and others are not; however, it is known that Ebola victims usually have not developed a significant immune response to the Ebola virus at the time of death.