Deadly Marburg Virus Confirmed in Ethiopia,WHO Responds
Jinka,Ethiopia – The World Health organization (WHO) has confirmed the first-ever outbreak of Marburg virus disease in Ethiopia,with nine cases identified as of today. The outbreak, centered in the town of jinka in the southern part of the country, raises concerns about a potential wider spread of the highly virulent and often fatal disease.
Marburg virus, a hemorrhagic fever virus, is known for it’s severe symptoms and high mortality rate. While there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments, the WHO has deployed a team of experts to Ethiopia to assist local authorities in containing the outbreak. This emergence follows recent cases reported in other East African nations, with genetic analysis confirming the same viral strain is responsible for the infections in Jinka.
The virus causes a range of debilitating symptoms, including high fever, severe headache, and muscle aches, often progressing to severe hemorrhaging within a week of infection.Transmission occurs thru contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals exhibiting symptoms, as well as contaminated objects and surfaces.
Ethiopian health officials are implementing stringent measures to control the spread, including extensive testing, isolation of confirmed cases, rigorous contact tracing, and supportive patient care. The virus is believed to originate in fruit bats, and past outbreaks have been linked to laboratory exposure, as seen in Marburg, Germany, in 1967 were the virus was first identified during experiments with monkeys.
The WHO is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with national and international partners to provide support and prevent further transmission of this dangerous pathogen.
