By Louis Achi
The Marburg virus disease has officially made its first-ever appearance in Equatorial Guinea.
In the same family as Ebola, the Marburg virus is a highly contagious hemorrhagic fever that is spread by fruit bats. Like Ebola, it is contracted by coming into contact with bodily fluids and surfaces infected by people with the condition.
A lot of patients experience severe hemorrhagic symptoms within seven days of the illness’ abrupt onset. There are no approved vaccines or antiviral medications to treat the virus.
According to a statement by the World Health Organization (WHO), preliminary tests after nine people died in the country’s western Kie Ntem Province turned out to be positive for the virus, which led to listing Equatorial Guinea as one of the countries with the virus.
In order to support the national response efforts and ensure community collaboration in outbreak control, WHO has deployed health emergency experts in epidemiology, case management, infection prevention, laboratory, and risk communication.
Additionally, WHO is facilitating the delivery of laboratory glove tents for sample testing and one viral haemorrhagic fever kit with 500 health workers’ worth of personal protective equipment.
After at least eight people died from a disease that caused hemorrhagic fever, Equatorial Guinea reportedly quarantined more than 200 people and restricted movement.
Reports shows that the deaths were connected to individuals who attended the same funeral service together.
Thanks to the swift and firm action taken by the Equatorial Guinean authorities in confirming the disease, said Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa, in a statement on the situation.
