Treatments for Ebola

Treatments for Ebola cannot kill the virus that causes the disease; instead, they focus on providing relief of the symptoms of the illness. These treatments can include oxygen, IV fluids, good nursing care, antibiotics, and other medications. Even when these treatments for Ebola are administered, death still occurs in 50 to 90 percent of cases.

Ebola Information

Treatments for Ebola: An Introduction

There are currently no proven treatments for Ebola that can kill the Ebola virus. Treatments for Ebola focus on providing relief of Ebola symptoms as the body fights the virus. This is called supportive care.

Treatments for Ebola Involving Supportive Care

Treatments for Ebola may include:

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

Outcome Following Treatments for Ebola

Even with these treatments for Ebola, death occurs in 50 to 90 percent of 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.