By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
Following a recent high alert of second incidence of Marburg Virus Disease detected in West Africa , to Nigeria, the Nigeria Centre of for Disease Control , NCDC, has said that Nigeria has the competence to control any reported case of the virus in the country.
The Director General, NCDC, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa said, “Nigeria has the resources (human, technical and laboratory) for prompt identification and management in the event of a single imported case.”
The agency that it is aware of the declaration of the outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) in Ghana confirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the 17th of July 2022.
According to NCDC, the Ghanaian public health officials with the support of WHO are responding to halt the spread of the disease.
The disease control agency said due to the proximity of Ghana to Nigeria and the WHO alert , it has assured Nigerians that the NCDC-led multi sectoral National Emerging Viral Haemorrhagic Diseases Working Group (EVHDWG) that coordinates preparedness efforts for MVD, and other emerging viral haemorrhagic diseases has conducted a rapid risk assessment to guide in-country preparedness activities.
NCDC experts said that the overall risk of importation of the disease and it’s potential impact on the Nigerian population is moderate due to factors such as incubation period of 21 days of the virus , heightened surveillance at the point of entry.
Also Nigeria’s capacity to respond to the outbreak in country and the fact that persons with MVD transmit the virus when they become symptomatic unlike for SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 that can also be transmitted by infected persons without symptoms, makes chances of spread moderate in the country.
NCDC says this is the second time this zoonotic disease has been detected in West Africa following the previous incidence in Guinea in August 2021.
The cases were reported in two unrelated males – 26 and a 51 years old – who both died from the disease.
The disease was first discovered in 1967 following outbreaks in Marburg and Frankfurt in Germany, and Belgrade, Serbia. Since then, outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in some African countries.
