No Drug And Marburg Virus Vaccine Yet, Ministry Of Health Reminds People To Be Alert

Illustration - Marburg. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health Mohammad Syahril said that currently there is no cure or vaccine to cure marburg virus diseases that have been designated as extraordinary events (KLB) in Equatorial Guinea.

"Vaccines are still under development. Currently, 2 vaccines are entering phase 1 clinical trials, namely the Sabin strain vaccine and Janssen vaccine. There is no special drug yet, the treatment is symptomatic and supportive, namely treating complications and maintaining liquid and electrolyte balance," Syahril said in his statement, Tuesday, March 28.

Syahril said that until now, cases or suspected Marburg had not been found in Indonesia. Indonesia conducted a rapid risk assessment of Marburg virus disease on February 20, 2023. The results found that the possibility of importing Marburg virus cases in Indonesia was low.

However, Syahril reminded the public to be vigilant and not to be careless about the transmission of the virus.

"We need to keep our early vigilance and anticipate Marburg virus disease," said Syahril.

The Ministry of Health has also issued a Circular on awareness of Marburg virus disease for local governments, health service facilities, port health offices, health human resources, and related stakeholders.

The Marburg virus (filovirus) is one of the deadliest viruses with a fatality of 88%. Marburg virus disease is a rare dengue fever.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has received reports of cases of Marburg disease originating from Equatorial Guinea on Monday, February 13, 2023.

Based on the case report received by WHO, there were 9 deaths and 16 suspected cases reported in Kie Ntem Province. Symptoms experienced were fever, fatigue (fatigue), bloody vomiting, and diarrhea. Of the 8 samples examined, 1 sample tested positive for the Marburg virus.

The Marburg virus (filovirus) is one of the deadliest viruses with a fatality of 88%. Marburg virus disease is a rare dengue fever.

This virus is a family with an Ebola virus. Transmission to humans occurs through direct contact with people or infected animals, or through objects contaminated with the Marburg virus.

Marburg is transmitted through body fluids directly from bats/primate. The host bat that is natural to the Marburg virus, Rousettus aegyptiacus, is not a native species of Indonesia and has not been found in Indonesia, but Indonesia is entering the bat mobilization route.

Symptoms are similar to other diseases such as malaria, tyfusion, and dengue fever which are commonly found in Indonesia. This, according to dr. Syahril, which causes Marburg virus disease, is difficult to identify.

These symptoms include high fever, headache, muscle aches, vomiting nausea, diarrhea, and bleeding. This disease can also cause bleeding in the nose, gums, vagina or through vomiting and feces that appear on the 5th day until the 7th day.