What you need to know about deadly Marburg disease

NAIROBI, KENYA: Ministry of health has beefed up surveillance along Kenya’s border points following an outbreak of Marbug Viral Disease (MVD) in the north eastern part of Uganda.

Since October 3, World Health Organisation (WHO) says there have been one confirmed laboratory case, two fatalities and over 200 contacts so far recorded as per Uganda’s ministry of health.

Following Kenya’s proximity to Uganda, the ministry says, “It is necessary for all health care workers all over the country to step up their surveillance for this disease to protect Kenya from its introduction.”

In a warning alert signed by director of medical services Kioko Jackson, ministry wants official at the border points and sub county health management teams to watch out for any person with a cute onset of fever and vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pains, headache, sore throat, measles like rash, red eyes or bleeding from body openings.

According to the ministry, if any patient fits into the above criteria; one needs to notify the next administrative level immediately.

Handling such patients also includes:

Use appropriate personal detective measures or materials (two pairs of gloves, head cover, impervious material gown, face mask, goggles, plastic apron and a pair of boots or impervious material shoe cover Isolate the patient Collect about 5-10 mls of blood into a sterile plain bottle Restrict the number of personnel caring for the patient and have their full contact details Triple package the sample of whole blood and send to KEMRI (Kenya Medical Research Institute) laboratory. If the sample cannot be transported immediately, refrigerate but do not freeze. Stop visitors from seeing the patient Keep the isolation room wastes disposal in buckets with 2 percent sodium hypochlorite If caring for the patient, avoid contact with your body parts such as scratching