Equatorial Guinea is currently facing an outbreak of Marburg virus disease, a viral haemorrhagic fever. The disease is caused by the Marburg virus, which belongs to the same virus family as the deadly Ebola virus. The virus is transmitted to humans from fruit bats or through close contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person.
Marburg virus disease can cause severe and often fatal illnesses in humans, with a mortality rate as high as 88%. The signs of infection with the Marburg virus include a high fever, feeling exhausted, and vomiting or diarrhea that may contain blood. Unfortunately, there are no approved vaccines or antiviral medicines to treat the disease.
The outbreak in Equatorial Guinea was declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) in February. Since then, the country’s health ministry has confirmed 13 cases of the disease, and nine individuals have passed away. One patient has recovered, and 825 contacts have been identified, indicating a potential for further spread of the virus.
The WHO has identified nine laboratory-confirmed cases and 20 deaths and probable cases in Equatorial Guinea. The Director-General of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, recently mentioned that WHO is aware of other cases and has requested the national government to report them officially to WHO. This information suggests that the actual number of cases in Equatorial Guinea may be higher than the reported number.
The current outbreak in Equatorial Guinea is a reminder of the continued threat of emerging infectious diseases in our interconnected world. The WHO has been warning about the potential for the emergence of new infectious diseases and pandemics, and the current outbreak in Equatorial Guinea highlights the need for preparedness and coordinated global response to emerging infectious diseases.
In the absence of a specific cure for Marburg virus disease, early diagnosis, and supportive care are crucial in managing the disease. Isolation of suspected or confirmed cases, and contact tracing and monitoring, are essential in controlling the spread of the virus. The WHO has been working with the government of Equatorial Guinea to support its efforts in managing the outbreak.
Moreover, the WHO recently reported Tanzania’s first-ever cases of Marburg virus disease, located in the northwest Kagera region. Eight cases, including five fatalities, have been reported. The WHO is working with regional governments and vaccine producers to initiate experiments in the countries impacted by the virus.
The outbreak of Marburg virus disease in Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania highlights the need for continued vigilance and preparedness for emerging infectious diseases. The WHO’s Global Alert and Response Network (GOARN) works to coordinate international responses to disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies.
GOARN has been activated in response to the outbreak of Marburg virus disease in Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania. The network provides technical and operational support to countries facing outbreaks, including laboratory diagnostics, infection prevention, and control, and other critical services.
In addition to GOARN, the WHO is working with partners to develop vaccines and therapeutics for Marburg virus disease. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is a global partnership that is working to develop vaccines against emerging infectious diseases. CEPI is currently supporting the development of a vaccine candidate against Marburg virus disease.
CEPI’s work on Marburg virus disease builds on its previous successes in developing vaccines against other emerging infectious diseases, including COVID-19, MERS, and Nipah virus. The partnership has also been working to develop a universal vaccine platform that can be quickly adapted to new disease threats.
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