South Sudan’s ministry of health is increasing measures to prevent the spread of Marburg virus after the death of a health worker in Uganda from the disease.
There have been no confirmed Marburg cases in South Sudan, but the health ministry considers the Ugandan outbreak as “significant.”
“Given the proximity of Uganda to South Sudan and given the high level of movement between the people and goods to and from Uganda, I think it is a big concern to the public and to the government and to the people,” said health minister Riek Gai Kok at a press conference in Juba.
All passengers entering South Sudan from Uganda at the Nimule, Kajo-Keji, and Bazi border crossings will be screened for the virus, reported Radio Miraya.
The United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said public education and social mobilization activities are also ongoing, but cautioned that “more needs to be done to ensure preparedness.”
“Isolation facilities need to be established at key border crossings and laboratory capacity needs to be enhanced to do testing in country,” OCHA said in its weekly bulletin.
Marburg is a hemorrhagic fever that can be fatal. Symptoms include severe headache, fever, and cold chills after an incubation period of five to ten days.
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