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Marburg

UAE residents warned of new virus Marburg

The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation advises people to refrain from travelling to Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania because of the outbreak of Marburg virus. Those living in these countries should take precautions and follow the instructions of competent authorities to stay safe.

The World Health Organisation said earlier that Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania had recorded outbreaks of Marburg virus, a highly contagious and deadly disease similar to Ebola.

Citing nine “laboratory-confirmed deaths”, Equatorial Guinea’s health ministry said 13 more positive cases had been reported and 825 contacts had also been traced.

Tanzania also announced five deaths from the virus but clarified that the spread of the virus was under control. WHO has warned of a potential large-scale epidemic that could spread to neighbouring Gabon and Cameroon.

Natural foci of Marburg fever are in Africa, on islands in the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, although the disease was discovered in 1967 when laboratory infections arose in Germany due to the importation from Uganda of green monkeys whose tissues were used to create a polio vaccine.

Marburg fever is a haemorrhagic fever characterised by an acute onset and sudden onset. Symptoms include high body temperature, fever, muscle pain, headache, pharyngitis, and later on, developing vomiting, diarrhea, papular and macular rash, hemorrhagic diathesis, and multiple bleeding.

The disease affects the kidneys, liver and pancreas. The heart muscle and the central nervous system may be affected, with confusion, irritability and aggression. Inflammation of one or both testicles may occur in the later stages of the disease. The incubation period varies from two to 21 days.

Infection of humans is possible by close contact of injured skin or mucosa with the blood of sick humans or monkeys, their other bodily fluids, organs, or by contact with surfaces and materials contaminated by patient secretions.

The case fatality rate for Marburg virus infection is as high as 88%, but it is quite low if medical care is provided in a timely and appropriate manner. A vaccine against this form of hemorrhagic fever has not yet been developed.

Source: Khaleej Times

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