Number of Ebola deaths could be cut by use of basic measures, say experts

THE GUARDIAN  by Sarah Boseley in Freetown and Lisa O'Carroll
Dec. 5, 2014

Basic medical interventions such as giving Ebola patients rehydration salts and fluids from bigger bags could cut the death toll in west Africa in the absence of a proven cure, experts in tropical diseases write on Friday in the Lancet.

The doctors say it is “therapeutic nihilism” to assume there is no treatment for Ebola just because there are no drugs. It is likely, they say, that many patients die because of dehydration.

“It is often stated that there are no proven therapies for Ebola virus disease but that potential treatments, including blood products, immune therapies, and antiviral drugs, are being evaluated. This view is inaccurate,” say Dr Ian Roberts of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Dr Anders Perner, intensive care specialist at the University of Copenhagen.

Read complete article
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/05/ebola-deaths-basic-medical-measures-lancet

Link - The Lancet - Ebola virus disease: clinical care and patient-centred research
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2814%2962316-3/fulltext

Link to Lancet
http://ebola.thelancet.com/