Kenya is set to constitute a task force to deal with the rising threat of Marburg virus that has ravaged some parts of Tanzania.
On Tuesday, 21st, March 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) put Kenya on notice.
This is in line with the International Health Regulations which stipulate a legal framework for handling public health events and emergencies that have the potential to cross borders.
Sources at the Ministry of Health who spoke say there will be a task force meeting Wednesday afternoon and thereafter, an alert will be issued in the country.
The officials say that Kenya is adequately prepared to handle an outbreak should the disease slip into the country’s borders.
A task force that had been created to assess the country’s preparedness for Ebola will also be at the forefront in handling cases of Marburg in case of an outbreak. This is because both diseases share similarities and are highly fatal in terms of presentation, testing, management, and infection control among others.
Yesterday, Tanzania’s Health Minister Ummy Mwalimu confirmed a mysterious disease that has since killed five people to be the Marburg virus.
“Our public health laboratory results have confirmed that this disease is caused by the Marburg virus,” she said.
In her address to the media, Mwalimu said that three people are in the hospital and the ministry is tracing 161 contacts.