Backs against the wall: Novel and existing strategies used during the 2014-2015 Ebola virus outbreak

Abstract

The 2014-2015 outbreak of Ebola virus (EBOV), originating from Guinea, is now responsible for the infection of > 20,000 people in 9 countries. Whereas past filovirus outbreaks in sub-Saharan Africa have been rapidly brought under control with comparably few cases, this outbreak has been particularly resistant to containment efforts. Both the general population and primary health care workers have been affected by this outbreak, with hundreds of doctors and nurses being infected in the line of duty. In the absence of approved therapeutics, several caregivers have turned to investigational new drugs as well as experimental therapies in an effort to save lives. This review aims to summarize the candidates currently under consideration for postexposure use in infected patients during the largest EBOV outbreak in history.