New virus
The World Health Organization is warning travelers about the emergence of another “terrible virus,” a “cousin” of Ebola, which is fatal in almost 90 cases out of a hundred – the Marburg virus. The outbreak has so far been recorded only in some African countries, and many governments have banned tourists from visiting these countries.
According to the WHO – the disease “has epidemic potential” and does not exclude the risk of spread throughout the Earth. Travelers who risk going to these African countries are advised to check themselves for the main symptoms.
The disease is registered in Equatorial Guinea (the largest number of cases), Burundi (there are fatalities), Tanzania.
Many countries have already closed the “risk zone” for travelers. In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging travelers to avoid contact with those who are ill, and to monitor for symptoms in themselves after returning from the above countries.
The Vietnamese government has instituted a thorough screening for signs of illness for all those entering the country from Africa.
Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait have also banned travel to these countries.
In Equatorial Guinea, the outbreak began in February, when the disease broke out in several provinces. At the end of last month, there were more than ten confirmed cases and about 20 possible cases. And all possible cases are cases of those who have already died from the disease, but were not tested for Marbug virus.
The causative agent is transmitted from fruit bats and from human to human, just like covid. The first symptoms are fever, chills, headache and myalgia; after a few days there is a rash, the bilirubin content of the blood increases (jaundice), the liver and pancreas are affected, internal bleeding and multiple organ dysfunction occur, which is fatal.
No Comments