Kenya activates emergency response after Marburg virus outbreak in Ethiopia

The Ministry of Health has activated emergency response mechanisms following outbreak of the Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) in the neighboring country of Ethiopia.

Speaking during a meeting with community health workers in Mbeere North, Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni announced that prevention measures have been put in place to curb the virus.

The PS said that the ministry has enhanced surveillance at the airports and all other entry points.

“I want to announce to you that in Ethiopia, a disease has been discovered called Marburg and it’s a very serious disease, which if by any chance it is transmitted to Kenya, it can be very bad news, just like COVID," the PS stated.

MVD is a severe, often fatal illness, transmitted from bats to humans, and clinically similar to Ebola virus diseases.

It is an often-fatal hemorrhagic fever with symptoms that begin suddenly with fever, severe headache, muscle pain, and can progress to diarrhea, vomiting, and unexplained bleeding.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the disease has a case fatality ratio of up to 88%, but it can be much lower with good and early patient care.

WHO explains that healthcare workers, caregivers, and individuals involved in burial practices are particularly at risk when infection prevention and control measures are not in place.

WHO announced that there are no approved treatment or vaccines for MVD, although supportive treatment and early supportive care improves survival.