How prepared is SA for Marburg virus?

Marburg is part of the so-called filovirus family that also includes Ebola, which has wreaked havoc in several previous outbreaks in Africa.

In Rwanda, the disease has killed 12 people, mostly health workers, since an outbreak was announced late last month.

Professor Jantjie Taljaard, Head of Infectious Diseases at Tygerberg Hospital and Stellenbosch University, said that the disease has a fatality rate of up to 88 per cent. 

The highly infectious haemorrhagic fever is often accompanied by bleeding and organ failure.

“⁠The Marburg virus is physically indistinguishable from the Ebola virus and causes a very similar disease,” Taljaard explained. 

“It is spread from person to person through contact with bodily fluids like blood, saliva, diarrhoea, etc. The virus is thought to be naturally present in bats, and the initial case is transmitted by chance to humans. The outbreak occurs because of continued human-to-human transmission.”

The World Health Organization says outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Kenya. 

Taljaard said Marburg and mpox are not similar in nature, as mpox is mainly a skin disease that may cause more severe disease in immunocompromised people, and it’s transmitted through direct contact with skin lesions which may include sexual contact.

Marburg transmits much easier and causes a more severe disease.

“⁠Marburg disease can only be transmitted through close contact with sick people and is not a threat to people outside the health care setting or household. It is not transmitted through casual day-to-day contact with people. If you had contact with a sick person who is subsequently confirmed to have Marburg virus disease, you must contact the health care authorities as they may be able to offer you protective vaccination,” Taljaard said.

Taljaard told Jacaranda FM News that South Africa’s ports of entry remain a challenge.

“Sustained awareness of the condition in sick people at ports is probably the biggest challenge. When identified, there must be a temporary isolation facility at the port and safe transport to a predetermined healthcare facility that can manage isolation and treatment.

During previous outbreaks of Ebola in West and Central Africa, the Department of Health developed extensive standard operating procedures and communication strategies for the early detection of imported cases.

“These procedures have already been activated with important role-players being informed and appropriate re-training planned. At the moment, the biggest potential port of entry will be at our international airports, which have flights from Kigali,” Taljaard said.

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