Jakarta –
The number of laboratory-confirmed cases of the Marburg virus has increased by six in Equatorial Guinea, where the virus first broke out in Africa on 13 February. The total number of confirmed cases has now reached 15, according to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), on Saturday (15/4/2023).
WHO warns that the risk of death from the Marburg virus is between 88 and 90 percent. Marburg virus can be spread by human-to-human transmission by direct contact through broken skin or mucous membranes with blood, secretions, organs, body fluids of an infected person.
As well as contamination on the surface of objects and materials, for example bedding to clothing.
“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.
WHO is working with national authorities to enhance emergency response by carrying out disease surveillance, testing, clinical care, infection prevention and control, and further epidemiological investigations and strengthening public awareness to curb the spread of infection.
Additional experts in WHO epidemiology, logistics, health operations, and infection prevention and control will be deployed in the coming days. The organization is also supporting health authorities in neighboring Cameroon and Gabon to improve outbreak preparedness and response.
To date there are no approved vaccines or antiviral treatments to treat the virus. However, supportive care, rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids and treatment of specific symptoms, improves survival.
Previously, Indonesia was also aware of the risk of transmitting the Marburg virus from African travelers, so surveillance was carried out strictly, including at the arrival gate.
Watch Video “Recognize the Early Symptoms of the Marburg Virus Appearing in Africa“
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