Artesunate-amodiaquine is associated with reduced Ebola mortality
Channel: F1000
Date: 10/06/2015

Iza Ciglenecki, MSF, discusses that malaria treatment is recommended for all suspected cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), either presumptively or based on malaria diagnosis. In Foya Ebola Management Centre (EMC), Lofa County, Liberia, the first-line anti-malarial, artemether-lumefantrine (AL), ran out for a 2-week period in August 2014. During this stock rupture, patients received artesunate-amodiaquine (ASAQ); amodiaquine is known to have anti-Ebola virus activity in vitro. We analysed routine programme data with the aim of determining the effect of malaria treatment on mortality in EVD patients. ASAQ may provide substantial protection against EVD mortality compared with AL. While more pre-clinical and clinical research is needed to understand these biologically plausible findings, health policymakers should consider recommending ASAQ for all EVD patients regardless of malaria status.

Slides are available to download here: http://f1000research.com/slides/1000087.

This video is part of an F1000Research channel that includes posters, slides and videos from the MSF Scientific Day meetings in the UK and India. To see more please visit: http://f1000research.com/msf/sciday-uk15.