المملكة: Urgent: Regional preparedness for confrontation "Marburg"..and specialists told Al-Youm: The Kingdom has a system that monitors and reduces risks

Countries in the region raised the level of health alert after the Ethiopian government announced that it had recorded a limited outbreak of the Marburg virus in the south of the country, amid warnings from the World Health Organization about the danger of the virus and the speed of its transmission through open environments.

Marburg is considered one of the High-risk hemorrhagic fevers similar to the Ebola virus, and are transmitted through contact with an infected person’s body fluids or contaminated surfaces.

Isolation of an Ethiopian city

Ethiopia began monitoring cases in the city of Jinka in mid-November, before the infections were confirmed in the laboratory, while health teams are working to follow up on contacts and strengthen isolation and investigation procedures. The World Health Organization and the Africa Center for Disease Control rushed to support health authorities by providing supplies and technical teams, especially in areas near the borders of Kenya and South Sudan.

In the context of regional follow-up, the GCC countries show High readinessand continuous monitoring of health developments related to the Marburg virus, through epidemiological surveillance systems, reference laboratories, and health emergency plans.

Gulf preparedness

These efforts come within the framework of the usual preventive work of the Gulf countries, without issuing any official announcement about the implementation of additional measures such as restricting travel, preventing the entry of a certain nationality, or imposing new emergency protocols, and are currently content with careful monitoring and risk assessment according to global developments.

While the Minister of Public Health and Population in Yemen, Dr. Qasim Buhaibah, directed to raise the level of national preparedness and implement immediate measures consistent with the International Health Regulations (IHR), during an expanded meeting of the event committee devoted to discussing the epidemiological situation in neighboring countries. The meeting discussed the level of readiness at land, sea and air ports, the capabilities of national laboratories, and the logistical readiness of the pharmaceutical sector and medical supplies, in addition to raising the readiness of surveillance centers, enhancing diagnostic capabilities, and preparing isolation centers as a reserve for any potential emergency.

Egyptian denial

For its part, it denied The Egyptian Ministry of Health recorded any infections with the virus, confirming that surveillance systems will continue to follow the situation in the Horn of Africa around the clock, and apply examination and screening protocols for those arriving from affected countries, while preparing reference hospitals to receive suspected cases according to approved standards.

World Health Organization indicators show that controlling outbreaks depends on early surveillance, isolation, and infection control, in addition to raising community awareness, in light of the lack of an approved vaccine yet.

Saudi readiness

In a related context, specialists confirmed to Al-Youm the Kingdom’s readiness and its medical and preventive capacity to deal with any possible case of the Marburg virus, pointing to an advanced national system in epidemiological surveillance, rapid response, and infection control measures, in addition to the readiness of laboratories and tightening control at ports of entry.

They stressed that risk assessments indicate a low probability of the virus entering the Kingdom, while prevention, awareness, and following up on global developments remain crucial factors in strengthening national health security.

Preventive protocol in the Kingdom

Infectious diseases consultant Dr. Hawraa Al-Bayat said that there is complete readiness by the Ministry of Health and the Prevention Center to deal with cases similar to the Marburg virus or any hemorrhagic fever such as Ebola as well, explaining that preventive protocols are being circulated to all health sectors, with a focus on raising the level of awareness of personal and environmental protection measures.

Rapid risk assessment

For her part, Preventive Medicine and Infection Control Consultant, Dr. Manal Matar Al-Dajani, said that the Kingdom’s readiness to deal with any possibility related to the Marburg virus is clearly demonstrated through an advanced health system and preventive measures based on scientific foundations.

Control steps begin with immediate reporting

Molecular virology specialist Dr. Mona Shaqdar said that Marburg disease is one of the most dangerous hemorrhagic fevers and is transmitted to humans mostly from fruit-eating bats, and then spreads between humans through contact with body fluids or contaminated tools.

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