Egypt issues guidelines for treating cases infected with Marburg virus

CAIRO – 16 February 2023: Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population has issued the guideline for treating cases infected with the Marburg virus after the World Health Organization (WHO) and Equatorial Guinea announced the death of 9 people and 16 suspected cases of the Marburg virus.

The Ministry added that it followed up on the epidemiological situation of diseases, noted that the guidelines on the Marburg virus include a definition of the disease, the preventive measures to be taken, and the procedures for dealing with suspected or infected cases.

On Feb. 13, Equatorial Guinea announced the first-ever outbreak of the Marburg virus after nine cases were killed and other 16 suspected were reported. Also, two days ago, Cameroon announced that two cases were detected in Olamze, the border village with Equatorial Guinea.

The Ebola-like virus is incurable and up to 88% of infected cases die, according to the WHO. The fatal virus symptoms include “fever, fatigue and blood-stained vomit and diarrhoea.”

The virus is transmitted from fruit bats to humans and can be transmitted among humans through bodily fluids from infected cases, WHO added.