West Africa is currently experiencing the largest outbreak of Ebola virus disease
(EVD) in history. Two patients with EVD were transferred from Liberia to our hospital
in the United States for ongoing care. Malaria had also been diagnosed in one
patient, who was treated for it early in the course of EVD. The two patients had
substantial intravascular volume depletion and marked electrolyte abnormalities.
We undertook aggressive supportive measures of hydration (typically, 3 to 5 liters
of intravenous fluids per day early in the course of care) and electrolyte correction.
As the patients’ condition improved clinically, there was a concomitant decline in
the amount of virus detected in plasma.