Skip to main content

#Ethiopia, #Prevention and #Control Activities for the #Marburg Virus Disease Have Been Strengthened and Are Ongoing (MoH, Nov. 26 '25): 73 confirmed/probable/suspected cases so far

Image
By G.M.

 


The Ministry of Health and the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) have released a press statement containing updated information regarding the Marburg virus disease.

They stated that laboratory tests have confirmed the occurrence of Marburg virus disease in the Southern Ethiopia Region. 

Up to now, 73 suspected individuals have been tested; among them, 6 patients have died due to the virus, as confirmed by the EPHI reference laboratory. Five additional patients are currently receiving treatment.

It was also noted that 349 people who had contact with the confirmed cases are under follow-up, and 119 of them have already completed their isolation period.

Dr. Mekdes Daba, Minister of Health, expressed condolences for those who lost their lives due to the virus and extended sympathy to their families, relatives, and friends.

She further explained that isolation centers have been established in affected areas, trained personnel are deployed, and essential medical supplies are being organized to provide strengthened medical care to patients. 

Additionally, Ethiopia is working with countries that previously experienced Marburg outbreaks to exchange expertise, learn from their experience, and access treatments and vaccines that have yielded positive results, ensuring they become available in the country for patients.

Dr. Mesay Hailu, Director of the Ethiopian Public Health Institute, confirmed that isolation centers, medical services, and trained staff are prepared should new cases appear. 

He added that even in regions where no cases have been detected, preparedness activities are underway. 

Screening procedures have also been strengthened at airports, border points, and other entry/exit locations.

Anyone who shows symptoms of the disease is urged to report immediately to the nearest health facility or call the toll-free numbers 8335 or 952. These hotlines also provide additional information and counseling services about the disease.

Source: 


Link: https://www.moh.gov.et/marburg-response

____

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

#Neuroinvasive #Oropouche virus in a patient with #HIV from extra-Amazonian #Brazil

By G.M.
{Excerpt} A novel reassortant Oropouche virus (OROV) lineage (with medium [M], large [L], and small [S] RNA segments : M1L2S2) has driven Brazil's largest and most geographically widespread OROV epidemic , expanding beyond the endemic Amazon basin to establish local transmission across multiple Brazilian states and other previously unaffected Latin American countries . The rapid spread of this lineage underscores its evolutionary potential and reinforces its significance as a public health threat .1 Similar to chikungunya and Zika viruses, expanding arboviruses can exhibit unexpected clinical and epidemiological shifts , including vertical transmissions , neuroinvasive effects, and potentially fatal outcomes.2–4 Although OROV typically causes self-limited febrile illness, accumulating clinical and experimental evidence suggests neurotropic potential .5 This Correspondence describes the first confirmed case of neuroinvasive OROV infection caused by the emergent M1L2S2 lineage in ext...
Post a Comment
Read more »

No evidence of immune #exhaustion after repeated #SARS-CoV-2 #vaccination in vulnerable and healthy populations

By G.M.
Abstract Frequent SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in vulnerable populations has raised concerns that this may contribute to T cell exhaustion , which could negatively affect the quality of immune protection. Herein, we examined the impact of repeated SARS-CoV-2 vaccination on T cell phenotypic and functional exhaustion in frail older adults in long-term care (n = 23), individuals on immunosuppressive drugs (n = 10), and healthy adults (n = 43), in Canada . Spike-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell levels did not decline in any cohort following repeated SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, nor did the expression of exhaustion markers on spike-specific or total T cells increase. T cell production of multiple cytokines (i.e. polyfunctionality) in response to the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 did not decline in any cohort following repeated vaccination. None of the cohorts displayed elevated levels of terminally differentiated T cells following multiple SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations. Thus, repeated SARS-CoV-2 vaccination was...
Post a Comment
Read more »

Chimeric #hemagglutinin and #M2 #mRNA #vaccine for broad #influenza subtype protection

By G.M.
Abstract Since multiple and unpredicted influenza viruses cause seasonal epidemics and even high-risk pandemics , developing a universal influenza vaccine is essential to provide broad protection against various influenza subtypes. Combined with the mRNA lipid nanoparticle-encapsulated (mRNA-LNP) vaccine platform and chimeric immunogen strategy , we developed a novel cocktail mRNA vaccine encoding chimeric HAs (cH5/1-BV, cH7/3) and intact M2 (termed Fluaxe), which confers broad protection against major circulating IAVs and IBVs , as well as highly pathogenic avian influenza . Two-dose intramuscular immunization of Fluaxe in mice elicited cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies , T cell responses, and long-lived immunity, resulting in robust protection against multiple lethal influenza virus infections and severe acute lung injuries . In particular, intramuscular administration stimulated systemic immunity together with a prominent lung tropism of memory cells . Moreover, Fluaxe immuniza...
Post a Comment
Read more »