In the African country nine dead and 34 contacts followed; of the Ebola family, the virus is one of the deadliest in the world, but the organization sees a low chance of a global outbreak
The global risk of spreading the Marburg virusof the same family as ebolacausing an outbreak in Equatorial Guinea, is low, according to a statement released by the World Health Organization (WHO) Saturday 25. On a national level, however, it is high. If we consider the regional scope (Africa), the risk is moderate.
“Transboundary population movements are frequent and the borders are very porous, between the districts of Ebebiyin and Nsock Nsomo (Equatorial Guinea), Cameroon and Gabon. This constitutes a risk of transboundary spread,” WHO explained in a statement.
Experts listened to by Stadium when the virus was identified, they had already pointed out that, with the knowledge available about Marburg, the “export” of cases to other countries could also occur, but a spread resulting in another pandemic is unlikely. Among the reasons are the high lethality of the virus, the small number of asymptomatic patients and the rapid progression of the clinical picture.
On 13 February, the WHO Regional Office for Africa reported that Equatorial Guinea had confirmed its first Marburg virus outbreak.
In its statement on Saturday, the international agency said that, as of 21, the cumulative number of cases of the disease in the country is nine, and all have died. Thirty-four contacts are currently being followed up, although “most of the contacts of the nine deceased cases have not been identified,” he said.
According to the WHO, all nine victims have been in contact with a relative with the same symptoms or have participated in the burial of a person with symptoms compatible with that of the disease. The agency points out that, at this time, “there may be untraced chains of transmission” (sub-report of cases).
Source: Terra
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