MARBURG; THE VIRUS LURKING IN THE HOUSE NEXT TO OURS!
I was in my room, probably lost in thoughts whilst trying to see the farthest depths (or should I say heights) of space above my head - in fact, the angle at which my head was elevated should be around 65 degrees. I was literally watching the sky with my eyes fixed on the Big Full Round Moon. The full moon had burnt bloodred, lighting the whole Nassarawa community with a warm crimson glow almost as bright as the sun.
My phone beeped, a WhatsApp message crept in, it interjected the flow of the dialogue I was having with the beautiful eye of heaven that sat very gorgeously amongst the stars. Well, I picked my phone up and Alas it was Dr. James and said, in his very usual friendly tone - "Oga Public Health, Do you know about Marburg Virus? Considering writing anything for us in that area?" and before I knew what was happening, he sent a link to an article written by Dele Anofi, published by The Nation (A Newspaper outlet) and titled "NCDC alerts Nigerians to Marburg Virus Outbreak".
This was Thursday, 17th October, 2024.
The implication is that currently and at the moment, there is a potential risk of a Marburg virus outbreak in Nigeria as confirmed by Jide IDRIS, the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) as he disclosed that the agency is closely monitoring the situation in Rwanda, where as of October 15, 2024, 62 cases and 15 fatalities have been confirmed.
Dear Readership, if there are already fatalities in Rwanda, I believe we need neither a soothsayer nor a Prophet to tell us that MARBURG VIRUS IS THE VIRUS LURKING IN THE HOUSE NEXT TO OURS!
Furthermore, I have come to the realization of the fact that Preventive Medicine is better than Curative Medicine and as such I will be telling you most of the information you need at your fingertips about and/or on Marburg Virus and ways through which it can be mitigated or prevented. Please allow me hold you by the hand as we tread this path gently.
Foremost, can you still remember Ebola Virus? I know you can and that's a very good place to start from. Marburg virus is a highly infectious and deadly hemorrhagic fever virus that belongs to the Filoviridae family, which also includes Ebola virus. It is a zoonotic virus, meaning it can be transmitted between animals and humans. The virus is transmitted through:
1. Direct contact with infected bodily fluids (blood, sweat, saliva, etc.)
2. Contact with contaminated objects or surfaces.
3. Human-to-human transmission through close contact with infected individuals.
Dear Readership, let me try to summarize what happens when this deadly virus enters the body.
When the virus enters the body of a human being, it makes sure to replicate so well so that many of its offspring can get into the bloodstream. When they do, they tend to target the immune cells of the body (these cells are the soldiers of the body), these viruses suppress the immune cells due to their high number and virulence. Therefore, cells die, organs get damaged with visible hemorrhages.
It is also worthy to note that the symptoms of Marburg virus disease include the following:
1. Fever
2. Headache
3. Muscle pain
4. Fatigue
5. Diarrhea
6. Vomiting
7. Abdominal pain
8. Bleeding or bruising
At this juncture, let's talk about the role of the Natural Reservoirs of the Marburg virus.
It has been established that the Natural Reservoirs (that is, an animal that harbour this virus without showing any symptom of illness) of the Marburg virus are the Fruit Bats. They tend to shad the virus in their saliva, urine and faeces, infecting other animals and of course, humans - through direct contacts and contamination of the environments.
Please note that there are no vaccines against this virus and as such the best bet for Us is to take preventive measures, and some of these measures include the following -
1. Get rid of bats in and around your homes, schools and workplaces.
2. Avoid contacts with Bats, Animals and even humans that maybe infected.
3. Use Personal Protective Coverings or Equipments such as Gloves, Facemasks, especially when handling animals.
4. The Government should enforce strict hygiene and sanitation measures in places where people tend to gather
Finally Dear Readership, Marburg Virus is a deadly disease and as such should never be allowed into this house of ours (Nigeria) and there's no better time to be very proactive and intentional about it not crossing borders into Nigeria.
Let's join forces to combat Marburg virus and protect humanity from its deadly grip!
Together, we can:
• Support research and development of vaccines and treatments.
• Raise awareness and educate communities about prevention and risks.
• Empower healthcare workers and frontline responders with resources and training.
• Advocate for global cooperation and preparedness.
Every action counts, every voice matters, and every contribution brings us closer to a world where Marburg virus is a thing of the past!
Will you join the fight against Marburg virus today?
Well, till we get to the promised land, I shall be waiting for when you will pass me a glass of water and thank God for the gift of grace for this race.
PS - Pictures were gotten from Opera Mini.
This was Thursday, 17th October, 2024.
The implication is that currently and at the moment, there is a potential risk of a Marburg virus outbreak in Nigeria as confirmed by Jide IDRIS, the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) as he disclosed that the agency is closely monitoring the situation in Rwanda, where as of October 15, 2024, 62 cases and 15 fatalities have been confirmed.
Dear Readership, if there are already fatalities in Rwanda, I believe we need neither a soothsayer nor a Prophet to tell us that MARBURG VIRUS IS THE VIRUS LURKING IN THE HOUSE NEXT TO OURS!
Furthermore, I have come to the realization of the fact that Preventive Medicine is better than Curative Medicine and as such I will be telling you most of the information you need at your fingertips about and/or on Marburg Virus and ways through which it can be mitigated or prevented. Please allow me hold you by the hand as we tread this path gently.
Foremost, can you still remember Ebola Virus? I know you can and that's a very good place to start from. Marburg virus is a highly infectious and deadly hemorrhagic fever virus that belongs to the Filoviridae family, which also includes Ebola virus. It is a zoonotic virus, meaning it can be transmitted between animals and humans. The virus is transmitted through:
1. Direct contact with infected bodily fluids (blood, sweat, saliva, etc.)
2. Contact with contaminated objects or surfaces.
3. Human-to-human transmission through close contact with infected individuals.
Dear Readership, let me try to summarize what happens when this deadly virus enters the body.
When the virus enters the body of a human being, it makes sure to replicate so well so that many of its offspring can get into the bloodstream. When they do, they tend to target the immune cells of the body (these cells are the soldiers of the body), these viruses suppress the immune cells due to their high number and virulence. Therefore, cells die, organs get damaged with visible hemorrhages.
It is also worthy to note that the symptoms of Marburg virus disease include the following:
1. Fever
2. Headache
3. Muscle pain
4. Fatigue
5. Diarrhea
6. Vomiting
7. Abdominal pain
8. Bleeding or bruising
At this juncture, let's talk about the role of the Natural Reservoirs of the Marburg virus.
It has been established that the Natural Reservoirs (that is, an animal that harbour this virus without showing any symptom of illness) of the Marburg virus are the Fruit Bats. They tend to shad the virus in their saliva, urine and faeces, infecting other animals and of course, humans - through direct contacts and contamination of the environments.
Please note that there are no vaccines against this virus and as such the best bet for Us is to take preventive measures, and some of these measures include the following -
1. Get rid of bats in and around your homes, schools and workplaces.
2. Avoid contacts with Bats, Animals and even humans that maybe infected.
3. Use Personal Protective Coverings or Equipments such as Gloves, Facemasks, especially when handling animals.
4. The Government should enforce strict hygiene and sanitation measures in places where people tend to gather
Finally Dear Readership, Marburg Virus is a deadly disease and as such should never be allowed into this house of ours (Nigeria) and there's no better time to be very proactive and intentional about it not crossing borders into Nigeria.
Let's join forces to combat Marburg virus and protect humanity from its deadly grip!
Together, we can:
• Support research and development of vaccines and treatments.
• Raise awareness and educate communities about prevention and risks.
• Empower healthcare workers and frontline responders with resources and training.
• Advocate for global cooperation and preparedness.
Every action counts, every voice matters, and every contribution brings us closer to a world where Marburg virus is a thing of the past!
Will you join the fight against Marburg virus today?
Well, till we get to the promised land, I shall be waiting for when you will pass me a glass of water and thank God for the gift of grace for this race.
PS - Pictures were gotten from Opera Mini.
