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Africa faces several challenges including animal and human migration patterns
Thursday, April 6, 2023
The current outbreaks of Marburg virus disease in Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania are the latest zoonotic diseases reported in Africa. Our continent has seen a 63% increase in these epidemics between 2012 and 2022 compared to the previous decade. Zoonotic diseases account for approximately 32% of infectious disease outbreaks reported in Africa between 2011 and 2022. Dr Tieblé Traoré, Technical Officer for Emergency Preparedness at the WHO Regional Office for Africa, explains how African countries should prepare to respond effectively to outbreaks of zoonotic diseases such as Marburg.
What factors explain the more frequent occurrence of Marburg epidemics?
Dr Tieble Traore — Since 2020, four outbreaks of Marburg have been reported in Guinea, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania, compared to only three outbreaks between 2010 and 2020. Marburg is not the only zoonotic disease for which we observe more frequent outbreaks in Africa. In 2019 and 2020, zoonotic pathogens accounted for approximately 50% of public health events. Ebola virus disease and other viral hemorrhagic fevers such as Marburg constituted nearly 70% of these epidemics.
This increase in the number of cases of zoonotic diseases may be due to several factors, including human, animal and environmental determinants. Africa faces several challenges, including animal and human migration patterns, poor enforcement of veterinary regulations related to meat consumption, wildlife trade, a complex food system, poorly controlled antimicrobial drugs and poor quality, land use, loss of biodiversity and other factors. All this increases the occurrence of emerging deadly diseases such as Marburg.
How can countries mitigate risk and prevent outbreaks?
Dr Tieble Traore — Once a zoonotic disease is detected, countries must be prepared to rapidly mobilize resources to prevent the spread of the disease, prevent and manage cases, and engage communities for a robust and effective response.
That said, preparedness is key. Although we do not yet know the origin of the Marburg outbreaks in Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania, we do know that there is growing capacity in Africa to recognize and test specimens for viral hemorrhagic fevers like Marburg and Ebola. This detection and outbreak declarations mean that the public is more aware that a potentially dangerous disease is circulating within communities. This allows people trained in outbreak management to respond quickly to such events, including offering technical expertise or sending medical supplies. This is why it is essential to work with communities to raise awareness of potentially dangerous zoonotic diseases, such as Marburg, as well as how they can be contracted and how to alert health authorities.
To help tackle the rise in zoonotic diseases, four United Nations agencies — the Food and Agriculture Organization, the United Nations Environment Programme, the World Organization for Animal Health and the WHO — have called for strengthened global action to achieve the One Health goal, which includes strengthening health systems and is a comprehensive approach in response to pressing and complex challenges facing our society.
What is WHO doing to help countries manage this risk?
Dr Tieble Traore — WHO is working with its Member States to strengthen their capacities to prepare for, prevent, protect, respond quickly to and recover from health emergencies, including the ongoing Marburg outbreaks. It is essential that healthcare workers are well trained and equipped to quickly detect infectious diseases and trigger an appropriate response. The Organization has supported countries to build laboratory capacity, held joint simulation exercises to test and improve preparedness for public health emergencies. Through its flagship emergency preparedness and response project, WHO aims to promote resilience of systems for emergencies, strengthen and engage emergency response groups and transform Africa’s disease surveillance systems.
