The Vice President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, has announced the end of the Marburg virus outbreak in the country, which has caused 17 laboratory-confirmed cases and 23 deaths in cases reported as probable.
“After no infections were registered in Marburg during the 21 days stipulated by the WHO [Organização Mundial da Saúde] and after the magnificent work and results obtained in the fight and containment of this virus: today I declare [segunda-feira] the end of the Marburg virus in Equatorial Guinea,” Nguema wrote on Twitter.
According to WHO data, Equatorial Guinea registered, until April 20, 12 deaths among laboratory-confirmed cases, with a mortality rate of 75%. Four of the confirmed cases have recovered, and it is unknown what happened to the other infected.
The virus remains active in Tanzania, which recorded a total of nine cases between March 16 and April 30, including eight laboratory-confirmed and one probable.
To date, six deaths (66.7% case fatality rate) have been reported in Tanzania, including one probable case and five confirmed cases, and of the confirmed cases, three have recovered.
Last week, the WHO praised the health authorities of both countries for “showing strong political commitment”, having in recent weeks “further strengthened critical response functions” such as disease surveillance, including at points of entry and exit from affected areas, laboratory activities, clinical case management, infection prevention and control or risk communication and community participation.
The organization recommended maintaining vigilance, but considers that restrictions on travel or trade with Equatorial Guinea or Tanzania are not justified.
Marburg virus, for which there is no vaccine, is transmitted to humans by bats and is spread through direct contact with bodily fluids from infected people, surfaces and materials.
The disease begins acutely, with high fever, severe headache and general malaise, and can progress to severe hemorrhagic symptoms and the mortality rate varies and can be as high as 80%.
Source: TSF
