From Abubakar Yunusa
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said the country is at moderate risk of importing Marburg virus disease.
It would be recalled that Ghana, a neighbouring West African country, confirmed its first-ever outbreak of Marburg virus disease on July 17.
Owing to the outbreak of the virus, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) announced that two deaths were recorded while at least 98 contacts have been traced and quarantined.
The proximity of Ghana to Nigeria has raised concerns among Nigerians on the likelihood of importation of the virus to the country.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) identifies the Marburg virus as one that causes fever as experienced by persons who contract Ebola.
Reacting to the development, Ifedayo Adetifa, director-general of the NCDC, in a statement on Wednesday, said the risk of importation of the virus to Nigeria has been reduced as the situation is under control in Ghana.
Adetifa added that no case of Marburg virus disease has been reported in Nigeria at the moment.
“The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) is aware of the declaration of an outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) in Ghana confirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the 17th of July 2022,” he said.
“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.
“Ghanaian public health officials are responding with support from WHO to halt the spread of the disease.
“Given the proximity of Ghana to Nigeria as well as the WHO alert, the NCDC-led a 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”.
