LILONGWE: The Ministry of Health in Malawi has issued an alert on the Marburg virus disease, which has claimed five lives in Malawi northwest region of Kagera.
A statement signed Thursday by Secretary for Health Charles Mwansambo warned Malawians to be observant and to avoid close physical contact with suspected Marburg patients, according to Xinhua.
The statement has also urged Malawians to avoid touching bodily fluids of suspected patients with their bare hands, to wear gloves and appropriate personal protective gear when taking care of patients at home, and to practise hand washing with soap and water.
Mwansambo has assured Malawians that his ministry has the capacity at all points of entry to screen and detect all cases suspected of a disease of public health concern, including Marburg virus disease, and manage them according to standard guidelines.
The statement further said the ministry, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, will continue to monitor the situation in Tanzania and in the region and update the public accordingly. – BERNAMA-XINHUA
