Technical specifications for filovirus disease treatment centres

Overview

Filovirus disease outbreaks pose significant public health threats, and treatment centres have become essential infrastructure for outbreak response. This publication provides technical guidance to design and set up functional, patient-centred and evidence-based Ebola or Marburg treatment centres, supporting the safe identification, isolation, assessment and management of suspected and confirmed cases. It includes minimum requirements and technical specifications for all functions that characterize a treatment centre, an assessment tool for existing facilities, and standard layouts for reference.

The specifications apply to temporary, semi-permanent and permanent treatment centres and address spatial design, including zoning and circulation patterns, and infrastructure for over 25 functional spaces, ranging from screening areas and patient wards to donning and doffing zones, morgues, laundry facilities, waste management areas and laboratories. The guidance is intended for facility designers, planners, logisticians, health managers, infection prevention specialists, policymakers, donors and regulatory bodies involved in planning or operating filovirus treatment centres.