The Minister of Public Health, Dr Manaouda Malachie has cleared the air concerning the presence of Marburg virus in Cameroon. According to a release signed by the minister on February 14, no case of Marburg virus has been recorded in Cameroon. “…the Minister of Public Health reassures Cameroonians that the situation is under control and currently, no case has been notified in the country.” Part of the release reads.

This release comes shortly after over nine deaths from the marburg virus have been recorded in neighbouring Equatorial Guinea, on the boarder with the South Region of Cameroon.

To this effect, Dr Manaouda Malachie has urged nursing staff to notify and isolate any suspected case while calling on the general public to maintain standard hiegienic rules.

Marburg virus disease is a highly virulent disease that causes haemorrhagic fever, with a fatality ratio of up to 88%. It is in the same family as the virus that causes Ebola virus disease.

Marburg virus was first recognized in 1967, when outbreaks of hemorrhagic fever occurred simultaneously in laboratories in Marburg and Frankfurt, Germany and in Belgrade, Yugoslavia (now Serbia).

The virus can be transmitted through contact with an infected animal, direct contact with body fluids of an infected person, contact with contaminated surfaces and materials. Preventive measures include:
Wash hands regularly with soap and clean water.
Avoid contact with body fluids of a sick person, including sexual intercourse.
Avoid contact with wild animals that are sick or found dead.
Wash food and eat them well cooked and hot.

By Sandrine M.