#JustIn: No cases of Marburg in Namibia
Namibia has not detected any case of Marburg viral disease to date.
This is according to health ministry’s executive director Ben Nangombe, who confirmed the outbreak of the disease in Tanzania.
He said the ministry learned about the outbreak in the Kagera Region in Tanzania on 21 March. A total of eight cases has been reported and five deaths. The disease is similar to Ebola viral disease in that they both cause hemorrhagic fevers.
“Due to the increased activity related to international travel and trade population displacement and migration, Namibia remains at risk of importation of Marburg viral disease. Therefore we have to be vigilant and on high alert, particularly our main border crossings and in our public and private facilities,” said Nangombe.
The disease is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among people through direct body contact with body fluids, surfaces and materials.
Illness caused by the disease begins abruptly with high fever, severe headache, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration.
This is according to health ministry’s executive director Ben Nangombe, who confirmed the outbreak of the disease in Tanzania.
He said the ministry learned about the outbreak in the Kagera Region in Tanzania on 21 March. A total of eight cases has been reported and five deaths. The disease is similar to Ebola viral disease in that they both cause hemorrhagic fevers.
“Due to the increased activity related to international travel and trade population displacement and migration, Namibia remains at risk of importation of Marburg viral disease. Therefore we have to be vigilant and on high alert, particularly our main border crossings and in our public and private facilities,” said Nangombe.
The disease is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among people through direct body contact with body fluids, surfaces and materials.
Illness caused by the disease begins abruptly with high fever, severe headache, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration.
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