"While to this day, there have not been any reports of Marburg cases in Indonesia, we still need to carry out early vigilance and anticipation toward the Marburg virus," he said.
The World Health Organization (WHO) received a case report about Marburg disease from Equatorial Guinea on February 13, 2023.
Based on the report, 9 fatalities and 16 suspected cases were recorded in Kie Ntem province. The symptoms experienced by patients comprised fever, fatigue, bloody vomit, and diarrhea.
From the 9 samples examined, 1 was declared positive for the Marburg virus. The outbreak in Equatorial Guinea is estimated to have begun on February 7.
Indonesia conducted a quick risk evaluation of Marburg disease on February 20, Syahril said. As per the result, the likelihood of Marburg cases being imported to Indonesia is low.
The Indonesian government has issued a Circulation Letter on “Vigilance against Marburg Virus Disease.”
Regional governments, health service facilities, the Seaport Health Office, health human resources and related stakeholders have been urged to be alert against the Marburg virus.
The Marburg virus (filovirus), which resembles dengue fever, is one of the deadliest viruses with a fatality rate of 88 percent.
The virus is in the same family as the Ebola virus. It is transmitted to humans through direct contact with infected humans or animals or contaminated objects.
"Marburg is transmitted through bodily fluids directly from bats/primates," Syahril said.
The Rousettus aegyptiacus bat, the natural host of the Marburg virus, is a species that is not native to Indonesia and is not found in the country, he added.
"However, Indonesia is within this bat's mobilization route," he pointed out.
The symptoms caused by the Marburg virus are similar to other diseases such as malaria, typhus, and dengue fever, which are frequently detected in Indonesia.
"This is what makes Marburg virus disease hard to identify," he said.
The symptoms of the disease include high fever, headache, muscle aches, nausea, diarrhea, and bleeding.
The disease can also cause bleeding from the nose, gums, vagina, or through vomit and feces, which emerges on the fifth to seventh day.
According to Syahril, a vaccine for the disease is not yet available in the world and is still being developed.
Currently, there are two vaccines against the disease that have entered Phase 1 clinical trials, namely Strain Sabin Vaccine and Janssen Vaccine.
"There is no special medicine yet. The medication is symptomatic and supportive in nature, namely medicating complications and maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance," he explained.
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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
