As the Marburg Virus Disease spreads across Africa, the Zimbabwean government is strengthening its surveillence systems to track possible movement of the disease at its points of entry.

By Staff Reporter

In a statement, Health and Child Care Ministry permanent secretary Dr Jasper Chimedza said they have activated preparedness and response teams to be on the watch.

“In view of this regional outbreak, the MoHCC has taken steps to strengthen surveillance particularly at the points of entry and activated preparedness and response teams.

“If anyone presents with haemorrhagic symptoms and high fever having travel history to or through countries reporting MVD, they should immediately report to the nearest health facility or call the Ministry’s Public Health Emergency Operations Centre toll free number 2019 for assistance,” he said

This disease was detected in Equitorial Guinea last year with Tanzania declaring an outbreak of the disease last month.

“The Ministry of Health and Child Care is alerting the public of a current Marbug Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak affecting Equatorial Guinea and most recently Tanzania.

“Equatorial Guinea declared MVD outbreak on 13 February 2023 which has resulted in 20 probable cases and 9 confirmed cases being reported by 22 March 2023. Seven reported deaths were from the 9 confirmed cases while all the 20 probable cases have died.
“On the 21th March 2023, the Republic of Tanzania declared an outbreak of MVD, the first MVD outbreak reported in the country.
As of 22 March 2023, a total of 8 cases including 5 deaths (Case Fatality Ratio [CFR]; 62.5%) have been reported from villages in Bakoka district, Kayera region, Tanzania,” said Dr Chimedza.

The Marburg virus is said to be clinically similar to Ebola virus as they are caused by the same family of viruses and also cause severe haemorrhagic fever in humans. “Marburg virus is associated with high case fatality. The virus is transmitted to humans through fruit bats which are the natural hosts. Spread among humans is through human- to-human transmission via direct contact with blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected persons and with surfaces and materials contaminated with these fluids,” he said.
He added, “Presentation and Progression of Illness: • Illness begins abruptly with high fever, severe headache, severe malaise • Severe watery diarrhoea, abdominal pains and cramps, nausea and vomiting can begin from day 3 • Severe haemorrhagic manifestations are seen 5-7 days from onset of symptoms with fatal cases presenting with some form of bleeding, often from multiple sites
It is difficult to clinically distinguish MVD from other infectious disease such as malaria, typhoid fever, shigellosis, meningitis and other viral haemorrhagic fevers. A high index of suspicion in someone bleeding from ,ody orifices (haemorrhage) and travel history in MVD outbreak region is therefore required.”