JAKARTA (Lenteraday)- The Marburg virus is now in the spotlight, including in Indonesia. Imagine, the Marburg virus is reported to have claimed lives in Africa.
However, people are asked not to panic too much. Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin confirmed that until now the virus has not entered Indonesia.
“In Indonesia, there is none yet [virus Marburg]and we are still waiting for the World Health Organization (WHO),” said Budi quoted on Saturday (18/2/2023).
Besides, Budi said that not all viruses will spread widely to various countries. Likewise with the Marburg virus which is currently endemic in Africa.
He also asked people not to panic with the emergence of various viruses in a number of countries. Currently, health authorities are monitoring the spread of the virus with each different infection rate.
“We don’t need to panic too much. We’ll see there are levels. Does this include a variant of interest, is it a variant of concern, is it under monitoring. So, let’s pay attention to that,” he said.
Indonesia, said Budi, will continue to monitor and follow developments from WHO regarding the Marburg virus. What is certain is that people do not have to panic about the virus.
“We are following WHO, we have also received the information. But, friends, don’t rush to panic because not all viruses will spread,” he said.
The first outbreak of the Marburg virus occurred in Germany in 1967. This virus comes from the same family as the virus that causes Ebola.
WHO records that there have been nine cases of death due to this virus. The death case occurred in Kie Ntem Province, Equatorial Guinea on Monday (13/4). Symptoms experienced by patients on average are fever, fatigue, diarrhea, and vomiting of blood.
Reporter: dya / Editor: widyawati
