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5 more deaths of Marburg virus

Posted on 01 Month 04 2023

The World Health Organization (WHO) said five people have died from Marburg virus infection in Tanzania.

*The Marburg virus is not contagious but can lead to a rapid worsening. Photo: internet*

The outbreak of Marburg disease occurred in the Kagera region, northwest of Tanzania (Africa). Earlier, the health authorities of this country conducted a review of a strange disease that caused 8 people to be hospitalized. The results showed that they were infected with the Marburg virus. The patients developed symptoms including fever, vomiting, bleeding and kidney failure.

"Five out of eight cases, including one health worker, have died. The remaining three are being treated," said the WHO, which is currently tracking 161 people who had contact with the patients. .

Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said the efforts of Tanzania's health authorities in determining the cause of the disease showed determination to respond to the outbreak.

“We are working with the government to rapidly strengthen control measures to prevent the spread of the virus and end the outbreak as soon as possible,” Ms. Moeti said.

According to the Anadolu Agency, WHO is assisting the Tanzanian Ministry of Health in deploying an emergency team to Kagera to conduct further epidemiological investigations.

Previously, Equatorial Guinea reported 11 deaths from Marburg in January and February after attending a funeral in Kie-Ntem province.

The disease is caused by the Marburg virus, in the same family as the Ebola virus, which is highly virulent hemorrhagic fever, with a mortality rate of up to 88%. Symptoms usually have a sudden onset with high fever, severe headache, and severe malaise.

Many patients have additional bleeding symptoms within seven days. There is currently no approved vaccine or antiviral treatment.

The virus is transmitted to humans from fruit bats and is spread between humans through direct contact with infected human bodily fluids, surfaces, and materials.

* SOURCE: https://vietnamnet.vn/who-thong-bao-5-ca-tu-vong-en-virus-marburg-bao-gom-1-nhan-vien-y-te-2123425.html

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