Equatorial Guinea’s health officials on Wednesday said the country has reported 13 cases of Marburg virus since the beginning of the epidemic, reported Reuters. The statement comes after the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) urged the Central African country’s government to report new cases officially.
Equatorial Guinea’s government confirmed the country’s first-ever outbreak of the disease in February. So far, the government has been slow to release updates. Last week the WHO expressed fears there may be undetected chains of transmission.
“WHO is aware of additional cases and we have asked the government to report these cases officially to WHO,” Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during the WHO’s weekly press conference.
Equatorial Guinea’s health expert teams have been deployed in all the affected districts to trace contacts, isolate and provide medical care to people showing symptoms of the disease.
Tanzania confirmed its first known cases of Marburg virus disease on March 21.
Regarding the situation in Tanzania, the WHO chief said that the current confirmed cases stand at eight with five deaths, while three people are currently being treated in a health facility.
He said so far all of the reported cases are in one region.
“We can only truly protect human health if we also protect the health of animals and our planet,” Tedros said, adding that the outbreaks of Marburg virus disease are another reminder of that.
Neighboring African countries are currently on high alert and are informing their citizens, especially those living in border regions, about the disease and how to notify health authorities.
In Uganda, the health ministry has already begun compulsory testing for the Marburg virus at all its borders. It has also assessed preparedness and readiness in the high-risk border district of Kyotera.
In Kenya, the government has also heightened surveillance and asked its citizens to report if they experience any symptoms.
