Guidelines for the Management of Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women in the Context of Ebola Virus Disease

At the time of writing, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is experiencing the second largest Ebola outbreak in history. Investigational treatment and vaccination trials are ongoing, but data in the context of pregnancy and breastfeeding are limited. There is a lack of scientific evidence on how to best treat pregnant or breastfeeding women with suspected or confirmed Ebola virus disease (EVD). Evidence from previous outbreaks suggests that there is increased mortality and morbidity and a high rate of adverse pregnancy outcomes among women who acquire EVD during pregnancy.

In order to save the lives of mothers and their children, mitigate complications, and limit the spread of disease, it is crucial to create recommendations on the prevention, treatment, and surveillance of women who are exposed to EVD, acquire EVD during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or survive EVD with ongoing pregnancies. These guidelines are the first step to provide such recommendations.