TANZANIANS have been alerted on
Marburg outbreak in Eastern Uganda, with the government assuring of
intensified defensive measures.
Health, Community Development, Gender,
Elders and Children Minister Ummy Mwalimu yesterday allayed fears among
citizens, saying the government has reinforced the capacity of testing
centres at all regions that border Uganda.
“Our aim is to ensure that anyone
crossing the border from Uganda is tested. No patient has so far been
diagnosed with the disease in Tanzania...the public should not therefore
worry,” Ms Ummy said at the Tanzania Food and Drug Authority (TFDA).
She added that the World Health
Organisation (WHO) has confirmed that it has already controlled the
disease in Uganda. But, she cautioned citizens to remain vigilant and
report any suspected symptom of the disease.
The viral disease was reported in Kween
District, Eastern Uganda on October 17, this year. According to WHO, at
least four people were reportedly infected with the virus by October 19,
with two of them dying.
Earlier, the ministry issued a statement
yesterday, ad- vising citizens in regions that border Uganda--Mara,
Mwanza and Kagera--to remain vigilant as measures are in place to
prevent the disease in the country.
The ministry said so far there is no any
case related to the viral disease has been reported, urging people to
report to nearby health centres in case of coming across any patient
with symptoms related to the infection.
The government further said it had
already issued the alert and the disease fact sheet to all regional and
district medical officers through the Regional Administration and Local
Government.
It has also intensified surveillance of
the deadly disease by using heath experts in the regions, districts and
the country’s borders. The statement said the health employees have
embarked on public awareness raising campaign on the disease symptoms
for early provision of reports in case of outbreaks.
The government has dispatched protective
gears for health personnel to all regions bordering Uganda. Marburg is
the lethal viral disease, which is spread through direct contact with
wounds and body fluids like blood, saliva, vomitus, stool and urine of
an infected person.
The Marburg infected person presents
sudden onset of high fever with any of the following; headache, vomiting
blood, joint and muscle pains as well as bleeding through body
openings-eyes, nose, gums, ears and skin.
It is highly contagious and kills
instantly though it can easily be prevented. WHO says Marburg and Ebola
viruses are both members of the Filoviridae family, filovirus.
Though caused by different viruses, the
diseases are clinically similar...they are both rare and capable of
causing dramatic outbreaks, with high fatality rates.
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