Jakarta –
The Marburg virus is endemic in Africa, six new cases were identified Saturday (15/4/2023). The six patients were confirmed positive for Marburg with symptoms of fever, vomiting blood, and even being fatal.
Of the 20 cases suspected of being related to the Marburg virus, only seven of them have been confirmed to have died from the Marburg virus. Transmission can occur between humans when there is close contact.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that the death rate from this disease is relatively very high, namely 88 to 90 percent. The majority of those exposed did not survive.
However, could it be the next pandemic?
The Head of the Bureau of Communication and Public Services of the Indonesian Ministry of Health Dr. Siti Nadia Tarmizi some time ago said that although Marburg transmission could occur between humans, there were still few transmission cases found from this spread.
“It’s not easy to transmit. It’s through bodily fluids. It’s saliva, so we don’t worry too much about it through the respiratory tract,” he said.
Separately, the emergence of many diseases since the COVID-19 cases subsided, according to epidemiologists, is a sign that the threat of the epidemic will not stop.
“This reminds us that we can get through the acute phase of COVID with immunity, right? The threat of the next outbreak is actually already lined up, meaning that clean and healthy behavior is highly demanded,” said Dicky when contacted by detik.com, last Saturday.
Meanwhile WHO reminded Africa to continue to monitor the spread in order to minimize the spread of the epidemic.
“Confirmation of these new cases is an important signal to step up response efforts to quickly stop the chain of transmission and prevent potential large-scale outbreaks and deaths,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa.
“Marburg is highly virulent but can be effectively controlled and stopped by immediately implementing various outbreak response measures,” he continued.
Watch Video “Recognize the Early Symptoms of the Marburg Virus Appearing in Africa“
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