A new virus is spreading in Rwanda – the US is testing visitors who stayed in the area

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States (CDC) announced new precautions at the airports, which include checking every traveler returning from Rwanda in Africa and the surrounding areas, due to a virus that is spreading in the region these days.The virus, known as Marburg, causes concern among health authorities due to the high mortality rate caused by it – up to 90%, and although there are no reports of Marburg patients outside of Africa, global surveillance and vigilance are increasing.

 

Dr. Orit Yosofovitz, Head of Infectious Diseases at Asuta Medical Centers, explains that Marburg is a virus that belongs to the family of filoviruses, among which is the well-known Ebola. which usually last up to three weeks from infection. However, the most severe signs appear in the second stage of the disease – severe internal bleeding leading to a very high mortality rate.”

One of the main risks of infection, according to her, stems from the fact that the virus can be passed from person to person through direct contact with body fluids. “This means that medical workers and family members who are close to the patient are at high risk of infection, especially if appropriate protective measures are not taken.”

New guidelines in view of the outbreak

The current outbreak in Rwanda, which received extensive coverage in the world media, did not go unnoticed by theCDCand following the situation, the organization decided to act immediately to prevent a possible spread of the virus to other countries. Therefore, starting last weekend, as mentioned, all travelers arriving in the United States from the outbreak area are required to undergo comprehensive screening tests to detect early signs of Marburg disease – until the test they perform shows a negative result.

Similar to other viruses from the filovirus family, Hamburg is also characterized by a relatively quiet incubation period, in which the infected do not show obvious symptoms, but later the disease may worsen dramatically.

Dr. Yosefovitz points out that due to the similarity between Marburg and Ebola in terms of the ways of infection and the mode of spread, the current treatment is mainly focused on supportive care, as there is currently no effective drug treatment or proven vaccine against the virus. “With maximum supportive care, the fatality rate drops from 90 to 50 percent – this is still a high mortality rate,” she clarifies.

One of the main recommendations is to avoid contact with patients, especially with their body fluids, and to use appropriate protective measures such as gloves and masks when treating patients. In addition, the training of medical teams to deal with such viruses, especially in countries where there is a danger of an outbreak, is an essential element in the fight against the spread of infectious diseases.

Like health experts who have already expressed their opinion on the matter, Dr. Yosefovitz also believes that these are essential actions for the purpose of protecting the world public from a global outbreak of the virus. Although to date no cases of Marburg have been reported in Israel, she emphasizes that “the Ministry of Health must guide people traveling For Africa to avoid reaching areas infected with the virus.” According to her, the chance of an outbreak of this disease in our region is considered low, but vigilance and appropriate preparation can prevent the spread to other countries as well.