FG Hightened Surveillance at Border Entry over

FG Hightened Surveillance at Border Entry over Marburg Virus Disease

ZAINAB JUNAID 

The recent confirmation outbreak of the highly infectious Marburg Disease in Ghana has prompted the Federal Government of Nigeria to place the Port Health Services under the Federal Ministry of Health at the nation’s seaports, airports and land borders on red alert. 

This followed warnings received from medical expert that Nigeria could be at high risks for its proximity to Ghana. 

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), in a statement affirmed that based on available data assessed by experts, the overall risk of both importation of the disease and its potential impact on the Nigerian population is on the Moderate but given the proximity (same region), high traffic from Ghana and countries that share borders with Ghana, the incubation period of 21 days of the virus, the center has heightened surveillance at all entry points of the country to avert any sighted incident. 

The Center further confirmed that the risk of importation may be further reduced as the current situation in Ghana is under control as reported by Ghana Health Service. Active case finding is ongoing in Ghana while there is heightened surveillance in Togo and Benin as well. 

Marburg according to World Health Organisation (WHO) causes a rare, highly infectious disease and severe haemorrhagic fever (MVD) in humans and non-human primates just like the Ebola virus,  

It is another example of a zoonosis such as Lassa fever, etc. The natural animal reservoir/host are fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus). Following the transmission from infected animals to humans, it spreads in humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, and contaminated materials and surfaces. The virus can enter the body through broken skin or mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, or mouth.

The first case of the Ebola-like virus in West Africa was reported in August 2, 2021, when a man from Guéckédou Prefecture, Guinea, died and was confirmed to have had Marburg Virus Disease by WHO. 

Previous outbreaks of Marburg virus disease, which is spread through contact with the body fluids of infected people or animals, have occurred mainly in eastern and southern Africa, report says. 

The public are enjoined to take precautions because there is no treatment or vaccine for MVD, however, infected persons can benefit from supportive care and treatment of specific symptoms which improve the chances of survival. Early detection and treatment improve prognosis.