The National Center for Epidemics and Communicable Diseases said that the risk of Marburg virus transmission to Jordan is currently low. Due to the lack of direct flights with the affected countries in Africa, in addition to the fact that the reservoir of the Marburg virus, represented by fruit bats that transmit the disease to humans, is not present in Jordan.

The center stated that it is continuously following the epidemiological situation of the virus globally and in Africa with the concerned authorities, according to a statement issued by the center today.

The center recommended taking caution and caution if traveling to affected areas from countries that reported cases of Marburg virus, including: Equatorial Guinea, Tanzania, and any country reporting infections with the virus.

The center said that Marburg is a viral disease of rare but severe hemorrhagic fevers that affects both humans and other mammals, and has the ability to spread, especially among health care personnel and family members who take care of the patient, and the fatality rate may reach between 25-88 percent, and there are aspects. Similarities with Ebola.

In terms of preventive measures, the center recommended raising awareness among health personnel in hospitals about the disease, so that it is included in the differential diagnosis of any suspected case that has a sick history of traveling to endemic areas, adherence to hand hygiene, safe injection practices, strict use of personal protective equipment, and the application of additional measures to combat Infection, such as preventing contact with the patient’s blood, body fluids, contaminated surfaces or materials, and the patient’s clothes and bedding. When in close contact, infection prevention and control measures must be adhered to, and direct physical contact with the patient must be prevented.

With regard to preventive measures related to infrastructure, the center recommended identifying a reference hospital, allocating isolation rooms for use when needed to isolate the infected person, raising the capacity of laboratories and providing them with special reagents, improving the use of diagnostic tools to obtain quick results of samples in laboratories equipped with biosafety tools, and providing diagnostic tools to obtain Get quick results for samples.

Regarding preventive measures for contacts, the center recommended identifying contacts with a person infected with Marburg virus and monitoring them for a period of 21 days, isolating those who show symptoms to prevent further spread, providing care for confirmed patients, and maintaining good hygiene and a clean environment.

The disease was discovered for the first time in simultaneous outbreaks in Marburg and Frankfurt in Germany and Belgrade, Serbia in 1967 (hence the name of the disease in relation to the city of Marburg), where 31 laboratory workers and other health personnel were infected with the disease and 7 of them died, and the first case was exposed to monkeys African green imported from Uganda; Note that the reservoir for Marburg virus is the African fruit bat.

The center indicated that there are currently no vaccines or approved antiviral treatments, as supportive treatments are used in the hospital, such as replacing fluids and minerals for the patient, providing oxygen, maintaining blood pressure, replacing lost blood and clotting factors, and treating any infection that may appear as complications.

Regarding how the virus is transmitted, the center explained that the disease is transmitted by contact with the feces of infected bats or inhaling polluted air, or direct personal contact through contact with unhealthy skin or mucous membranes in the eyes, nose or mouth, and contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person or touching things. Contaminated by bodily fluids from a sick person or through semen from a recovered man.

The incubation period for the virus ranges from 2-21 days. As for the symptoms and signs of the disease, they are represented by a sudden fever, chills, headache and muscle pain. On the fifth day, a rash appears, especially on the trunk. Nausea, vomiting, chest pain, sore throat, abdomen and diarrhea may appear. Pancreatic, severe weight loss, delirium, shock, liver failure, severe hemorrhage and multi-organ dysfunction.

The number of reported cases in Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania since the beginning of the outbreak until last March was 25 and 8 cases, respectively, and the number of reported deaths from infected cases in Equatorial Guinea reached 11, with a death rate of 44 percent, while the number of reported cases reached 11. There are 5 deaths in Tanzania, with a death rate of 63 percent.