The government of Kenyan has moved to allay fears over the spread of the Marburg virus in the country, emphasizing that it is taking necessary measures to keep people safe.
This announcement follows the confirmation of a case of the virus in Tanzania on Monday, January, 20, 2025.
In a statement on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni stated that authorities are on high alert as she urged every Kenyan to take necessary steps to assure their safety.
“We are happy to confirm that currently, there is no reported case of Marburg virus disease in Kenya. However, Kenya remains at high risk for the spread of the outbreak, due to significant cross-border movement of people from Tanzania and other countries in the region. The Ministry of Health remains committed to protect the health and safety of all Kenyans,” the statement read in part.
Marburg virus prevention
Among the preventive measures announced by the Ministry of Health include establishing a Marburg virus disease preparedness and response plan as well as conducting a readiness assessment to assess the capacity of the country to respond to a similar outbreak.
The PS also announced that surveillance has been enhanced countrywide in all counties and at points of entry.
The ministry has further advised the general public to take precautions against the disease by taking infected people to a designated treatment centre where they will receive care isolated from others and avoid treating patients at home.
“If you or someone in your family or community has symptoms of the disease, seek immediate medical assistance from local health professionals who can provide patients with safe and appropriate care. Seeking care early when you are sick will improve your chance of survival and limit the risk that you will transmit the disease to your loved ones,” the PS stated.
Members of the public have also been advised not to touch or wash the body of anyone who has died with symptoms of the disease.
“Allow burial teams to take a swab from the mouth of the deceased to test for the disease. If the test result is positive, then the team will ensure that the deceased will be safely buried, while allowing you to mourn in an acceptable and dignified way. The burial teams might advise that you not perform some rituals that would involve touching, washing or kissing the body,” she added
As a preventive measure, people who had close contact with patients with Marburg virus will be identified as contacts. They will have their health monitored for 21 days.
“This allows for early detection of the disease and early access to care, which improves their chance of survival and reduces the risk of transmission to others,” the PS added.
