Gov't Issues Alert Following Outbreak of Marburg Virus in South Ethiopia

Kenya National Public Health Institute (KNPHI) has warned all the county governments in the country in response to the outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) in southern Ethiopia.

The announcement, issued on Tuesday, November 18, demands increased vigilance and greater preparedness methods to ensure that the virus does not spill over to Kenya.

KNPHI stated that the Jinka area of South Ethiopia confirmed the outbreak after laboratory tests confirmed a cluster of suspected cases of viral hemorrhagic fever.

The institute cautioned that the distance between the two nations and the fact that there is a constant movement of people across borders necessitates the counties in Kenya to move fast in order to curb the risks that would arise.

KNPHI also stressed the need to have immediate response measures in place in its advisory.

The counties were encouraged to strengthen the surveillance activities, enhance their ability to detect the cases and make the health facilities ready to handle any suspected or confirmed cases.

The institute pointed out in particular the necessity of strong systems of infection prevention and control, effective risk communication plans, and effective community engagement in order to provide timely reporting and early intervention.

Part of the notice was written as follows: Kenya National Public Health Institute (KNPHI) calls on all counties to be on guard and increase preparedness and response efforts to avoid the introduction and transmission of Marburg virus disease (MVD) to Kenya.

The population was also encouraged to embrace preventive health measures in order to reduce exposure.

KNPHI encouraged Kenyans to observe frequent hand hygiene, food safety, and not touching body fluids of sick persons.

Societies were also advised to practice safe burial customs, which have been instrumental in the control of earlier incidences of viral hemorrhagic fever in the area.

The institute has observed that a long-term partnership of the counties, health institutions, and the people would go a long way in minimizing the threat of Marburg virus incursion in the country. The Marburg virus is in the same family as the Ebola virus, and they both lead to serious viral hemorrhagic fever.

Frugs bats are the natural host of the disease, and in most cases, exposure of humans to bats through contact introduces the disease to man.

It subsequently disseminates among individuals as a result of direct contact with the bodily fluids of ill persons or infected items. The symptoms normally come suddenly, and the patients have high fever, severe headaches, malaise, and severe muscle pain.

As the illness continues, it can cause such symptoms as watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramping, vomiting, and a non-itchy rash. The virus may cause serious complications and mortality rates are high unless medical interventions are undertaken on time.

The new recommendation is nearly 1 year following Kenya fighting an outbreak of Mpox (previously monkeypox) that afflicted various counties.

It was reported that 33 patients were still admitted in the various health facilities at the time and 54 were under home-based isolation (CS Duale). He quoted that since the outbreak, the disease has taken the lives of five (5) cases with a case fatality rate of 1.6%. There were 22 counties with cases of Mpox with Mombasa recording the highest 146 cases and then Busia recorded 63 cases and Nakuru with only 21 cases.

Cases were single in Migori, Kisii, Kirinyaga, Isiolo, Kitui, Narok, Baringo and Trans-Nzoia. When Kenya follows the Marburg virus situation in Ethiopia, KNPHI has informed the citizens that it is collaborating with county officials and other regional partners to provide prompt detection and successful containment of the virus in case it gets into the borders of the country. The health authorities are still emphasizing that early preparedness is the best defence against the emerging infectious diseases.