The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, says it’s aware of the declaration of an outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease MVD, in Ghana confirmed by the World Health Organization,WHO, on the 17th of July 2022.
In a statement, the agency said this is the second time the zoonotic disease has been detected in West Africa following the previous incidence in Guinea in August 2021.
NCDC said the cases were reported in two unrelated males 26 and a51 years old that both died from the disease.
According to the Agency, currently, no case of Marburg virus disease has been reported in Nigeria; NCDC said however, several measures are being put in place to prevent an outbreak of the disease in the country.
“The National Reference Laboratory has the capacity to test for MVD, point of entry surveillance has been heightened, trained rapid response teams are on standby to be deployed in the event of an outbreak and the NCDC’s Incident Coordination Centre (ICC) is in alert mode.”
The NCDC also said it is amplifying risk communication efforts and continues to work with States and partners to strengthen preparedness activities which include reviewing of risk communication protocols, plans and messages in the event of an outbreak.
The Marburg virus causes a rare, highly infectious disease and severe haemorrhagic fever, MVD in humans and non-human primates just like the Ebola virus, its closest relation and only other member of the Filoviridae family of viruses.
It is known to persist in the body placenta, amniotic fluid, foetus of infected pregnant women, breast milk of women who were infected while breastfeeding and semen of persons who have recovered from MVD.
The NCDC therefore urge Nigerians to adhere strictly to the following preventive measures:
a. Avoid non-essential travel to locations where the outbreak is reported for the moment.
b. Avoid direct contact with blood, saliva, vomit, urine, and other bodily fluids of people with suspected or confirmed Marburg virus disease.
c. Avoid the animal reservoir (fruit bats), other sick animals.
d. Ensure all persons with the symptoms described above are promptly taken to healthcare facilities for diagnosis and initiation of supportive treatment.
e. In suspected and or confirmed MVD cases, direct physical contact should be avoided by ensuring strict isolation, the use of protective gowns, masks, gloves and safe disposal of needles, bedding, and other contaminated materials.
f. Strict practice of infection prevention control in the healthcare setting for all suspected patients.
g. Male survivors of Marburg virus disease should practice safer sexual practices and hygiene for 12 months from onset of symptoms or until their semen test negative twice for the virus.
h. Infections have been recorded in health facilities and in healthcare workers while looking after patients with suspected or confirmed MVD.
