The Ministry of Health has issued an urgent health advisory to county governments and members of the public, following confirmation of a Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak in Ethiopia.
The Ethiopian Health Ministry, on November 14, confirmed that nine cases of the disease have been reported in Jinka Town in the South Ethiopia Region.
According to Kenya National Public Health Institute (NPHI) Director General Kamene Kimenye, the strong travel, trade, and migration ties between Kenya and Ethiopia make Kenya vulnerable to the virus, thus triggering the need for reinforced preparedness.
Marburg virus is in the same family of viruses that cause the Ebola virus. The disease is transmitted to humans through fruit bats and spreads among people through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals or contaminated materials.
According to Kamene, there is currently no approved therapy or vaccine for the effective management or prevention of the disease.
"In the African region, previous outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda," Kamene said in a statement on Tuesday, November 18.
Advisory to County Governments
County governments have been advised to heighten surveillance at health facilities, communities, and points of entry, including screening of travellers, active case finding, and reporting of suspected cases through national disease monitoring platforms.
Additionally, counties have been encouraged to identify and designate isolation facilities and ensure that they are functional. Clearer referral pathways should also be engineered in all hospitals to ensure that the transfer of cases to treatment units is done safely.
Furthermore, counties should ensure that Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) protocols are enforced to the letter in all healthcare facilities. These protocols include the use of PPE, hand hygiene, safe waste management, and environmental disinfection.
"Counties should identify and designate isolation facilities, ensure they are functional, and train healthcare workers on MVD recognition, triage, supportive management, and referral procedures," the statement read.
"Counties should prepare staff to safely collect, package, and transport specimens from suspected cases under strict biosafety protocols. Coordination with the National Public Health Laboratories (NPHL) should be ensured for rapid confirmation and timely case management," it added.
The devolved units have also been advised to ensure that Vommunity Health promoters (CHPs), local leaders, and other trusted channels dispense accurate messages on the virus's symptoms, prevention, and early reporting to enhance awareness of the disease.
Advisory to the General Public
On the other hand, the institute has urged people to avoid direct contact with the body fluids, including blood, vomit, and urine, among others, of suspected or confirmed MVD cases.
Members of the public have been further advised to handwash frequently, especially after coming into contact with sick individuals or handling potentially contaminated items. The institute has also encouraged individuals to ensure that they observe safe burial practices while burying individuals who have died of MVD.
The institute has warned people against handling or consuming bushmeat, especially bats and monkeys, which are known reservoirs of VHF viruses, including Marburg virus.
