In one month, nine people died of this disease in the east of the country, and sixteen suspicious cases have been reported.
mo12345lemonde with AFP
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced an emergency meeting on Tuesday, February 14, after nine people died of Marburg virus disease in Equatorial Guinea, a hemorrhagic fever almost as murderous as Ebola.
In a brief press release, the WHO said that it was going to bring together the so -called “Marvac” consortium, which promotes international collaboration for the development of Marburg virus vaccines. The consortium is coordinated by the WHO and includes representatives of the pharmaceutical industry, non -profit organizations, the authorities and the university world. The meeting must start at 2 p.m. GMT. The members of the consortium will take stock of the epidemiological situation in Equatorial Guinea as well as on the available candidate treatments and vaccines, said WHO.
There is no approved antiviral vaccine or treatment to treat the virus. However, supporting care – rehydration by oral or intravenous – and the treatment of specific symptoms increase the chances of survival. A series of potential treatments, including blood products, immune therapies and drugs, as well as candidate vaccines with phase 1 data, are being evaluated, according to WHO.
“Sanitary alert”
On February 13, Equatorial Guinea announced death in the east of the country of nine people between January 7 and February 7 of Marburg virus disease. According to the WHO, it is the “very first epidemic of Marburg virus disease” in this country. Equatorial Guinea declared “the sanitary alert” in the province of Kie-Ntenm and in the neighboring district of Mongomo, and the authorities have set up a containment plan in close collaboration with the WHO to cope with the Epidemic in this area covered with dense equatorial forest. The Minister of Health, Mitoha Ondo’o Ayekaba, reported on Monday that “4,325 people are in quarantine in the NKIE-NEM”.
So far, nine deaths and sixteen suspicious cases with symptoms such as fever, fatigue, vomiting and blood diarrhea has been reported, the WHO Regional Office in Africa said on Monday. In-depth investigations are underway.
The Marburg virus is transmitted to humans by frugivore bats and spreads in the human species by direct contact with the body fluids of infected people or with surfaces and materials. This very virulent disease causes hemorrhagic fever, with a lethality rate up to 88 %.