Health Ministry calls for actions to prevent possible Marburg virus

This is a particularly dangerous and highly contagious disease, with the mortality rate reaching up to 88%, the ministry said in a dispatch to localities nationwide.

Localities are requested to strengthen supervision over entrants from other countries, especially from African countries with Marburg virus disease outbreaks, for 21 days to swiftly detect suspected cases.

Furthermore, they also need to proactively develop scenarios in response to any outbreaks occurring locally, and at the same time prepare sufficient medical equipment, human resources, and funding to effectively cope with a possible epidemic.

The National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology and the Pasteur Institute have been requested to provide training and support localities in enhancing testing and diagnosing capacity for the disease.

Marburg is an acute infectious disease caused by the Marburg virus, with Rousettus aegyptiacus fruit bats being considered natural hosts for the virus. It is possible for the disease to be transmitted from animals such as bats and primates to humans.

Marburg can be spread through human-to-human transmission via direct contact with blood, as well as body secretions such as urine, sweat, saliva, vomit, breast milk, and semen, or alternatively through contaminated objects touched by an infected person.

The incubation period of the disease is between two and 21 days. Patients often suffer from symptoms such as a high fever, headache, or malaise, and then may experience diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramps, nausea, vomiting, or bleeding. There is currently no vaccine or specific treatment for the disease.