Kenya has placed its health authorities on high alert following three deaths linked to Marburg Virus Disease in neighbouring Ethiopia, the Kenya National Public Health Institute announced.
Marburg virus disease, previously called Marburg hemorrhagic fever, is a viral hemorrhagic fever affecting humans and non-human primates.
It is caused by the Marburg virus or the Ravn virus and has symptoms similar to those of Ebola virus disease.
While Kenya has not reported any cases, the KNPHI warned that significant cross-border movements from Ethiopia via airports and land borders pose a high risk of importation.
“Given the high case fatality rate of MVD, counties are urged to strengthen measures to safeguard public health,” the KNPHI said in an advisory. “Counties are advised to train health workers on viral hemorrhagic fever case definitions.”
The institute also urged authorities to reinforce monitoring at points of entry, health facilities, and communities to quickly detect and report suspected cases.
It added, “The alert follows Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health confirming the first-ever MVD outbreak in Jinka, southern Ethiopia. Previous African outbreaks have occurred in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda.”
Marburg virus is highly infectious with a high fatality rate.
Symptoms, including high fever and severe headache, typically appear within a week of exposure.
The virus belongs to the same family as Ebola, according to the World Health Organisation.

(Xinhua/NAN)