University of Abuja Teaching Hospital warns of Marbug disease outbreak

The University of Abuja Teaching Hospital has warned of the outbreak of Marbug disease in the community.

The hospital management in a statement by the Deputy Director of Information, Sani Suleiman also said that the number of COVID-19 cases within the community has increased.

Marburg virus is a hemorrhagic fever virus of the Filoviridae family of viruses and a member of the species Marburg Marburgvirus and genus Marburgvirus.

Marburg virus (MARV) causes Marburg virus disease in primates, a form of viral hemorrhagic fever.

The virus is considered to be extremely dangerous and the World Health Organization (WHO) rates it as a Risk Group 4 Pathogen (requiring biosafety level 4-equivalent containment).

The virus can be transmitted by exposure to one species of fruit bats or it can be transmitted between people via body fluids through unprotected sex and broken skin. The disease can cause bleeding (haemorrhage), fever, and other symptoms similar to Ebola.

According to the WHO, there are no approved vaccines or antiviral treatment for Marburg, but early, professional treatment of symptoms like dehydration considerably increases survival chances.

The hospital management advised everyone to maintain good hygiene, while also asking all Heads of Department to be in surveillance.

“The Management of University of Abuja Teaching Hospital wishes to notify the entire hospital community of an outbreak of Marbug disease and upsurge in COVID 19 infection.

“Consequently, the attention of all Head of Departments and members of staff is hereby drawn to ensure adequate surveillance and hygiene by observing all protocols of prevention.

“Please circularise for more information as ‘prevention is better than cure’,” the statement read.