JUBA – South Sudan’s Ministry of Health has stepped up surveillance along its eastern border after Ethiopia confirmed an outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus.
The outbreak was declared on Nov. 14 in Jinka town after laboratory tests confirmed the highly infectious hemorrhagic fever.
No cases have been detected in South Sudan, but authorities say monitoring has been intensified in Kapoeta East, Pibor, Pochalla and Akobo, which border the affected region.
Health Minister Sarah Cleto said the government and partners held an emergency meeting over the weekend, and the Public Health Emergency Operations Center has been activated to support screening, risk assessments and rapid response efforts.
Cleto urged the public to remain calm, saying the ministry and its partners had “intensified surveillance, preparedness and readiness measures to prevent any importation and spread of the virus,” and encouraged citizens to report suspected symptoms through the toll-free hotline 6666.
Marburg causes sudden high fever, vomiting, diarrhea and severe bleeding and can kill up to 88% of patients without early treatment, according to the World Health Organization.
Source: Radio Miraya