07 October 2024 | 15:04

Kazakhstan's chief sanitary doctor addresses Marburg virus outbreak

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Tengrinews.kz - Kazakhstan's Ministry of Healthcare is intensifying its control over the epidemiological situation following the World Health Organization's warning about an outbreak of the Marburg virus, according to chief state sanitary doctor Sarkhat Beysenova.

Tengrinews.kz - Kazakhstan's Ministry of Healthcare is intensifying its control over the epidemiological situation following the World Health Organization's warning about an outbreak of the Marburg virus, according to chief state sanitary doctor Sarkhat Beysenova.

The Ministry explained that the Marburg virus disease is a rare, severe viral hemorrhagic fever affecting both humans and other primates. The virus is found in nature in bats and can be transmitted from bats to humans.

Natural outbreaks of the Marburg virus have been reported in Southern, Western, and Central African countries, including South Africa, Gabon, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Guinea, Zimbabwe, and Kenya. Clinical symptoms of the disease can manifest 2 to 21 days after infection.

The Ministry of Healthcare recommends following preventive measures.

Given the high migration of people, it advises Kazakhstan’s citizens traveling to endemic countries to follow these precautions:

Avoid contact with infected individuals.
Steer clear of wild animals inhabiting African jungles.
Do not consume poorly cooked meat from local animals.
Refrain from visiting caves and mines inhabited by large numbers of Egyptian bats, which are asymptomatic carriers of the virus.
Seek medical assistance immediately if symptoms appear.
Maintain personal hygiene practices.

What makes the Marburg virus dangerous?

The Ministry notes that there is currently no specific treatment or vaccine for the Marburg virus, and only symptomatic treatment is provided.

The Marburg virus, belonging to the filovirus family, is primarily carried by fruit bats, which are asymptomatic hosts, unlike humans.

The virus spreads to humans through direct contact, particularly through skin abrasions, open wounds, or mucous membranes. It can also be contracted by interacting with surfaces and materials such as bedding or clothing contaminated by an infected person.

Key symptoms of the disease include fever, sore throat, rash, abdominal pain, and bleeding from the nose and eyes.

Will restrictive measures be implemented due to the threat of the Marburg virus?

“The Ministry of Health is closely monitoring the development of the epidemiological situation regarding the Marburg virus. To prevent the import and spread of the disease in the country, sanitary and quarantine controls are being conducted at international airports, where contactless temperature checks are performed on all arriving passengers,” Beysenova stated.

Previously, we reported on the discovery of dozens of new viruses in animals on fur farms in China.

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