Equatorial Guinea: Marburg Virus Disease outbreak confirmed - February 10, 2023+ - approximately 40 confirmed/probable cases (35 fatal) - Outbreak ended (June 8, 2023)

[sharon sanders]

2 minute read

February 10, 20231:17 PM EST
Last Updated 5 hours ago
Equatorial Guinea quarantines 200 after unknown hemorrhagic fever deaths

By Amindeh Blaise Atabong


YAOUNDE, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Equatorial Guinea has quarantined more than 200 people and restricted movement after an unknown illness causing hemorrhagic fever killed at least eight people, Health Minister Mitoha Ondo'o Ayekaba said on Friday as the government races to test samples.

The outbreak was reported on Feb. 7, and from preliminary investigations, the deaths were linked to people who all took part in a funeral ceremony, Ayekaba said, adding the government had sent samples to neighbouring Gabon and will send others to Dakar in Senegal for further testing.

Authorities have restricted movement around the two villages that are directly linked, he said, and contact tracing was ongoing. Over 200 people, who are showing no symptoms so far, are quarantined.


more....

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa...al-2023-02-10/

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Guinea Salud@GuineaSalud

⚠️ After registering the #Epidemiological Alert in the province of Kie Ntem; #MINSABS issued an Institutional Statement yesterday that you can read and download at the following link➡️http://bit.ly/3HLGEtr


2:15 PM · Feb 9, 2023·

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Equatorial Guinea: hemorrhagic fever kills 20 people, Cameroon on alert

Posted on 02.10.2023 at 1:58 p.m. by Arnaud Nicolas Mawel

The administrative and health authorities say they have taken steps and strengthened epidemiological surveillance.

According to the health authorities of Cameroon, there would have been 20 deaths on the day of February 08, 2023 in certain villages of the Kie Ntem province in Equatorial Guinea. The Cameroonian Minister of Public Health speaks of several unexplained deaths that have occurred in recent weeks. The Guinean villages concerned border the health districts of Ambam, Kye-Ossi and Olamze in the South Cameroon region. “ All the victims died in a picture of hemorrhagic fever ,” said Cameroonian Minister Manaouda Malachie.

In view of the risk of importing the disease into Cameroonian territory, the authorities are taking measures. “ Administrative authorities have restricted movement across the Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea border ,” informs the Minister of Public Health. The member of the government adds that his ministry has, in collaboration with the sectors and the support of the WHO and CDC Atlanta, initiated several actions.

These include, among others, “ the conduct of sectoral investigations in risk areas (…), the strengthening of epidemiological surveillance, the densification of awareness-raising and community mobilization activities ”, assures Dr. Manaouda Malachie. He invites the nursing staff to immediately notify and isolate any suspicious case by avoiding moving them.

https://www.journalducameroun.com/gu...-etat-dalerte/

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MinsanteCameroun@MinsanteCMR




5:17 AM · Feb 10, 2023

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THE REPUBLIC OF GABON
MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS

Declaration of epidemiological alert in Equatorial Guinea: Gabon takes action

Published 9 hours ago , on 02/10/2023

Following the declaration of epidemiological alert by the Government of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea , making nine (09) deceased persons with a picture of hemorrhagic fever such as fever, fatigue, diarrhea and vomiting of blood in the district of Nsok -Nsomo, province of Kie-Ntem, border region of Woleu-Ntem province, the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, informed of the situation and on the instructions of Dr. Guy Patrick Obiang Ndong, has taken additional security measures at the level of the border areas of our country with Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon.

The protocol implemented by the epidemiological base of the northern health region is as follows:

- systematic sampling of travelers from these two countries and transport to the Interdisciplinary Center for Medical Research in Franceville (CIRMF) for analysis;

- sensitization of the populations of the border villages on the respect of the measures of protection against a haemorrhagic fever.

Finally, does the Ministry wish to inform the public that the Minister of Health and Social Affairs, Dr. Guy Patrick Obiang Ndong , currently staying in the province of Woleu-Ntem, will visit these various border posts, on Saturday February 11, 2023.

https://www.sante.gouv.ga/9-actualites/1067-declaration-d-alerte-epidemiologique-en-guinee-equatoriale-le-gabon-prend-des-dispositions/

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HEALTH ALERT: Health issues a statement related to 9 deaths in two nearby communities in Nsok-Nsomo

For the moment, samples have been taken from the direct contacts of the deceased, the results of which will be available in the next 48 hours, meanwhile, the Vice President of the Republic has ordered a 48-hour quarantine throughout the province of Kie-Ntem.

By Noweg February 9, 2023 in Health

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ALERT RELEASE

The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of the Government of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea informs the population that in recent weeks there has been an unusual epidemiological situation in the Nsok Nsomo district, Kie-Ntem Province, related to 9 deaths in two nearby communities, a short time apart, who presented the following symptoms: fever, weakness, vomiting blood, and diarrhea.

Yesterday, February 7, the regional authorities notified this Ministry of the events that occurred. Given the epidemiological picture, the Government, through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, has proceeded to initiate the protocol established at the national level for the management of health emergencies:

Constitution of the Crisis Committee chaired by the Minister and made up of a multidisciplinary team made up of MINSABS executive and technical staff, as well as WHO experts based in the country.

Preparation of the first contingency and immediate response plan that includes the limitation of mobility to and between the affected districts and the reinforcement of local epidemiological surveillance services.

As the cases were reported, a team of experts was sent to the affected towns to investigate the facts in depth; performing COVID-19 tests on all citizens, all with negative results. After tracing the direct contacts of the deceased, they have been placed in preventive isolation, stool, blood and urine samples were taken to be sent to the WHO reference laboratory in the African region, which will have the results in the next 48 hours. It should be noted that a case of a woman and hers, two of her children, who were transferred to the Hospital, placed in isolation, under treatment and who are evolving favorably, was detected in a quackery.

While waiting to know the situation and the scope of the event, we make a special appeal to all those attending the wakes and burials that took place in the town of Ebú Nsok Mokomo between January 7 and 24; and in the town of Ngumu between January 24 and February 6, both belonging to the Nsok Nsomo District, contact the following telephone number: 555 627 979

At the same time, we call on all citizens to remain calm, and in the event that they present symptoms such as fever, weakness, vomiting blood and diarrhea, contact their community president by phone.

Likewise, we remind you that infection prevention measures must be maximized: avoid direct contact with people who present the symptoms described above, washing and disinfecting hands, correct use of a mask, correct cooking and disinfection of food and avoiding unnecessary crowds (festivities or family events included) At the same time, handling of corpses by non-medical personnel should be avoided, and attend wakes.

Finally, we appeal to the good use of the available means of communication and to the non-dissemination of unofficial information to avoid major difficulties in handling the emergency.

We remind citizens that Equatorial Guinea has previously experienced situations epidemiologically complex that have been overcome thanks to the involvement of health personnel in the country and citizen collaboration. We will continue to report promptly on the evolution of the epidemiological situation.

https://ahoraeg.com/ciencia-y-salud/salud/2023/02/09/alerta-sanitaria-sanidad-emite-un-comunicado-relacionado-con-9-fallecidos-en-dos-comunidades-cercanas-en-nsok-nsomo/

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The districts of Nsok-Nsomo and Ebibeyin have been isolated due to a possible epidemiological outbreak

The Ministry of Health has taken samples from the direct contacts of the deceased, the results of which will be available in the next 48 hours.

By Belgium Nvó Acaba February 9, 2023in Health

Nsok-Nzomo and Ebibeyin, districts of Kie-Ntem province, are experiencing a possible outbreak that has so far claimed nine human lives.

Concerned by this alarming situation, the Vice President of the Republic, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, has urgently summoned the ministries of Health, Interior, Security, Defense and the WHO representation in the country to find out the motives for this possible epidemiological situation unusual and take precautionary measures.

According to the report presented by the Minister of Health, the nine deceased so far are from the towns of Ngomo and Evusok-Mokomo respectively.

They presented symptoms such as weakness, vomiting blood, fever and diarrhea. Four of the dead were from the same family, who had direct contact with the first victim who manifested the same symptoms. As a result of this disturbing situation, the vice president and the health workers have agreed on the need to isolate the epicenter until the origin of the outbreak is determined, after learning the results of the first medical tests.

Although what the country is facing remains to be determined, Nguema Obiang Mangue believes that it is better to take whatever measures are necessary to safeguard the lives of his compatriots. To this end, he has recognized the experience that Equatorial Guinea has with Covid-19, and has instructed the Defense and Security ministers to exercise extreme vigilance in the districts of the Kie-Ntem province, limiting movement.

https://ahoraeg.com/ciencia-y-salud/salud/2023/02/09/aislados-los-distritos-de-nsok-nsomo-y-ebibeyin-por-un-posible-brote-epidemiologico/

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New victim of mysterious deaths in Ebibeyin and Nsok-Nsomo districts

Three people are in quarantine in the isolation unit of the Ebibeyin hospital.

By Belgium Nvó Acaba February 10, 2023 in Health

A woman has died at the Jesús Alfonso Oyono Alogo hospital in Ebibeyin, the victim was the mother of one of the young people who died last Monday from the same causes. According to sources, the two attended the funeral of a relative in Ndum-Esatop, Nsok-Nsomo district, a place that, according to health experts, could be the epicenter of this possible epidemiological outbreak.

With this new case, the number of people who lose their lives due to mysterious fevers, diarrhea and vomiting, registered in recent days in the districts of Nsok-Nsomo and Ebibeyin, increases.

The experts still do not know the real causes that produce these deaths, for this reason they invite the resident population of Ebibeyin to go to the hospital in case of fever, headache or vomiting blood.

The isolation unit of the Ebibeyin hospital already has three cases, whose patients are in quarantine.

https://ahoraeg.com/ciencia-y-salud/salud/2023/02/10/nueva-victima-de-las-muertes-misteriosas-en-los-distritos-de-ebibeyin-y-nsok-nsomo/

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alvesyatima 2023-02-10

[Health] Urgent measures taken at the border with Equatorial Guinea in terms of health

A mystery illness has claimed 20 lives in some villages in Equatorial Guinea's Kie Tem province near the border with Cameroon.

In a statement, the Head of Health District of Olamze in the South Region of Cameroon informs the populations of his district and surroundings that 20 deaths were reported during the day of February 8 in the province of Kie Tem in Equatorial Guinea . People exposed to this disease for the time not identified, have the signs of nasal bleeding, fever, joint pain and other signs that lead to death after a few hours.

The health authority specifies that the contamination is done by direct contact with an infected subject. It therefore calls on the populations to be vigilant and invites them to report any suspected cases to the nearest health facilities.

Read the press release from the Head of Olamze Health District

https://237story.net/sant%C3%A9-des-mesures-urgentes-prise-%C3%A0-la-fronti%C3%A8re-avec-la-guin%C3%A9e-%C3%A9quatoriale-sur-le-plan-sanitaire

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Cameroon on the alert after cases of haemorrhagic fever in Equatorial Guinea

Published on :02/12/2023 - 18:21

Text by: RFI

Does the Ebola virus threaten Cameroon? Health authorities are taking the lead after unexplained deaths across the southern border in Equatorial Guinea in Kie Ntem province.

Cameroonian health authorities are ready for screening and possible response in the health districts of Ambam, Kye Ossi and Olamze, assures Manaouda Malachie, Cameroonian Minister of Health. But “you have to know what virus it is before being alarmist ”, he believes, before explaining that Cameroon is collaborating with Equatorial Guinea in this direction.

“ We have been kept informed by our field surveillance system of a haemorrhagic fever of viral origin which has certainly raged in a neighboring country. Insofar as the three districts are bordering, the risk of importation is therefore known and high. This is why we believe that there is a risk either of an importation which has already taken place, or of a future importation”, warns Manaouda Malachie.

“ That said, I do not want to say that there is any Ebola virus in Cameroon, wants to reassure the Minister of Health. We have deployed a team in the field to go and collect and work with their counterparts in this neighboring country and so they will bring us back samples that we will have analyzed in our laboratories. Then we'll be able to tell what it's all about ."

In the meantime, the Cameroonian authorities have made available to the populations of these localities a toll-free number, 1510. They encourage them to report any death or symptom of haemorrhagic fever, not to touch the bodies of sick or deceased persons, nor the sick or found dead animals, and also to wash their hands with running water and soap.

https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20230212-le-cameroun-sur-le-qui-vive-apr%C3%A8s-des-cas-de-fi%C3%A8vre-h%C3%A9morragique-en-guin%C3%A9e-%C3%A9quatoriale

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Gabon, Cameroon step up health measures following EG deaths

By Laureen Fagan - 12 February 2023 at 8:04 pm

In Equatorial Guinea, there’s not yet a confirmed diagnosis of the suspected hemorrhagic fever illness that has claimed up to 20 lives and forced a lockdown in the Nsok Nsomo and Kie Ntem districts near the border with Gabon and Cameroon.

Health officials on Sunday were still waiting for laboratory test results on samples that were sent to Gabon and Senegal for testing. Mitoha Ondo’o Ayekaba, health minister for the small West African nation, said Equatorial Guinea first identified nine people with symptoms of fever, joint pain and weakness, vomiting blood, and diarrhea, all of whom were believed to have attended the same village funeral.

But a statement from the government of Cameroon put the death toll in Equatorial Guinea at 20...

While the symptoms are similar to those seen with the Ebola virus, they also may be caused by other hemorrhagic fevers, health experts said.
...

https://africatimes.com/2023/02/12/gabon-cameroon-step-up-health-measures-as-eg-deaths-remain-unexplained/

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Alert Akonibe delegates to Ebibeyin and Nsok-Nsomo cases

...
By Constantina Nchama February 13, 2023 in Health , Society

The Akonibe district government delegate, Asama Ntutumu Nchama, has met with the heads of services and local authorities; The objective of this meeting has been to alert the delegates of minor entities of Akonibe of the cases that are registered in Ebibeyin and Nsok-Nsomo that point to a possible epidemic.

In this sense, Asama Ntutumu Nchama has asked this group to carry out an exhaustive control of the citizens who have been able to travel to those areas of Kie-Ntem and inform the competent authorities of possible cases with the same symptoms.

The government delegate of the Akonibe district took advantage of the meeting to speak to the presidents about cleanliness in homes, as well as good neighborhood coexistence.

Fountain: TVGE

https://ahoraeg.com/sociedad/2023/02...-y-nsok-nsomo/

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Equatorial Guinea: nine dead in an epidemic of hemorrhagic fever of Marburg

By Le Figaro with AFP
Posted There are 3 minutes, updated just now

Nine people have died of Marburg virus disease, a hemorrhagic fever almost as deadly as Ebola , in eastern Equatorial Guinea, a small central African country that has quarantined a province to contain " the epidemic “, announced Monday, February 13 the Minister of Health.

The number of deaths has not changed for five days when the government announced that it was investigating suspected cases of haemorrhagic fever and only three people with " mild symptoms " of the disease are isolated for the time being in a hospital in this area. sparsely populated and rural, bordering Gabon and Cameroon, said Mitoha Ondo'o Ayekaba.

https://www.lefigaro.fr/international/guinee-equatoriale-neuf-morts-dans-une-epidemie-de-fievre-hemorragique-de-marburg-20230213

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Equatorial Guinea confirms first-ever Marburg virus disease outbreak

13 February 2023

Brazzaville/Malabo – Equatorial Guinea today confirmed its first-ever outbreak of Marburg virus disease. Preliminary tests carried out following the deaths of at least nine people in the country’s western Kie Ntem Province turned out positive for the viral haemorrhagic fever.

Equatorial Guinean health authorities sent samples to the Institut Pasteur reference laboratory in Senegal with support from World Health Organization (WHO) to determine the cause of the disease after an alert by a district health official on 7 February. Of the eight samples tested at Institut Pasteur, one turned out positive for the virus. So far nine deaths and 16 suspected cases with symptoms including fever, fatigue and blood-stained vomit and diarrhoea have been reported.

Further investigations are ongoing. Advance teams have been deployed in the affected districts to trace contacts, isolate and provide medical care to people showing symptoms of the disease. Efforts are also underway to rapidly mount emergency response, with WHO deploying health emergency experts in epidemiology, case management, infection prevention, laboratory and risk communication to support the national response efforts and secure community collaboration in the outbreak control.

WHO is also facilitating the shipment of laboratory glove tents for sample testing as well as one viral haemorrhagic fever kit that includes personal protective equipment that can be used by 500 health workers.

“Marburg is highly infectious. Thanks to the rapid and decisive action by the Equatorial Guinean authorities in confirming the disease, emergency response can get to full steam quickly so that we save lives and halt the virus as soon as possible,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

Marburg virus disease is a highly virulent disease that causes haemorrhagic fever, with a fatality ratio of up to 88%. It is in the same family as the virus that causes Ebola virus disease. Illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly, with high fever, severe headache and severe malaise. Many patients develop severe haemorrhagic symptoms within seven days. The virus is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials.

There are no vaccines or antiviral treatments approved to treat the virus. However, supportive care – rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids – and treatment of specific symptoms, improves survival. A range of potential treatments, including blood products, immune therapies and drug therapies, as well as candidate vaccines with phase 1 data are being evaluated.

https://www.afro.who.int/countries/equatorial-guinea/news/equatorial-guinea-confirms-first-ever-marburg-virus-disease-outbreak

[sharon sanders]

CDC webpage on Marburg


About Marburg Virus Disease




Marburg virus disease (MVD) is a rare but severe hemorrhagic fever which affects both people and non-human primates. MVD is caused by the Marburg virus, a genetically unique zoonotic (or animal-borne) RNA virus of the filovirus family. The six species of Ebola virus are the only other known members of the filovirus family.

Marburg virus was first recognized in 1967, when outbreaks of hemorrhagic fever occurred simultaneously in laboratories in Marburg and Frankfurt, Germany and in Belgrade, Yugoslavia (now Serbia). Thirty-one people became ill, initially laboratory workers followed by several medical personnel and family members who had cared for them. Seven deaths were reported. The first people infected had been exposed to Ugandan imported African green monkeys or their tissues while conducting research.

The reservoir host of Marburg virus is the African fruit bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus. Fruit bats infected with Marburg virus do not show obvious signs of illness. Primates (including people) can become infected with Marburg virus, which can cause serious illness or death. Further study is needed to determine if other species may also host the virus.

This African fruit bat is a sighted, cave-dwelling bat that is found widely across Africa. Given the fruit bat’s broad geographic spread, more areas are potentially at risk for outbreaks of MVD than previously suspected. The virus is not known to be native to other continents, such as North America.

MVD appears in sporadic outbreaks throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Many past outbreaks started with male mine workers in bat-infested mines. The virus then spread within their communities through cultural practices, within families, and among healthcare staff. It is possible that isolated cases occur occasionally, as well, but go unrecognized.

Cases of MVD in people have occurred outside Africa but are infrequent. In addition to the 1967 laboratory exposures in Europe that led to the discovery of the virus, a Dutch tourist developed MVD after returning to the Netherlands from Uganda in 2008, and subsequently died. That same year, an American traveler developed MVD after returning to the US from Uganda and recovered. Both travelers had visited a well-known cave inhabited by fruit bats in a national park. See the History of Outbreaks table for a chronological list of known cases and outbreaks.

Last Reviewed: January 20, 2023

https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/marburg/about.html

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Guinean Health@GuineaSalud

⚠️The Political Committee for #Health Emergencies of the Government of #EquatorialGuinea , through #MINSABS , declares the #Health Alert for #FeverMarburg (Marburg) in the Region of the Province of #KieNtem . Official Statement at the following link http:// bit.ly/3K2DoMY




1:16 PM · Feb 13, 2023·

[sharon sanders]

hat tip FrenchieGirl


WHO Urgent Marburg Meeting

14 February 2023

Date: 14 February, 2023

Time: 15:00 CET




The WHO R&D Blueprint is organizing an urgent meeting with the MARVAC partners to discuss vaccine and therapeutic candidates.

We will convene an urgent meeting to outline proposed research priorities towards the newly identified Marburg outbreak in Equatorial Guinea.


https://www.afro.who.int/countries/e...sease-outbreak

Agenda

1- Outbreak sit rep including diagnostics and epi info
2- Review of core trial protocol (Ira Longini)
3- Review of available vaccines and status
4- Review on therapeutics


Registration Link

https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2023/02/14/default-calendar/who-urgent-marburg-meeting

[Treyfish]

Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Malabo (February 9, 2023)

Location: Equatorial Guinea

Event: On February 8, 2023, the Government of Equatorial Guinea (EG) announced that over the past month, there has been an epidemiological outbreak of an as yet unidentified disease in the Nsok Nsomo district of the Kie-Ntem province in the mainland region of the country. There have so far been nine reported deaths in two communities. The deceased presented similar symptoms of fever, weakness, diarrhea, and vomiting blood.

The EG Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MINSABS) learned of the outbreak on February 7 and began implementing its protocol for a national health emergency. MINSABS has dispatched a team of experts to the district and is working with the World Health Organization to identify the cause of the illness and deaths. The government is expecting to have more information within 48 hours, which it will make public.

MINSABS has advised the general population to avoid contact with any individuals displaying the symptoms mentioned above, to practice good hygiene, to use masks in impacted areas, and to avoid unnecessary gatherings, including family celebrations. The government has also advised that only medical professionals handle cadavers of the deceased and that the population not attend funerals and wakes.

Actions to Take:

·Immediately report to a health professional if you experience fever, weakness, diarrhea, or vomiting blood.
·Continue practicing good hygiene, including washing your hands and disinfecting produce.
·Monitor news programs and websites to stay abreast of new health announcements from the government.
·Avoid travel to the Kie-Ntem province and surrounding areas until the outbreak is controlled.
·Avoid large gatherings and wear a mask when in enclosed spaces.
·Do not attend wakes or funerals.
·Check your email regularly for additional updates from U.S. Embassy Malabo.
https://gq.usembassy.gov/health-aler...ruary-10-2023/