Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministryof Health has asked the People's Committees of cities and provinces nationwide,the Pasteur In🎃stitutes and hygiene and epidemiology institutes to strengthenprevention and control of the Marburg virus disease.

The Marburgvirus causes an acute infectious disease, which naturally resides in fruit-eating bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus). The disease is transmitted from animals (bats, primates)to humans, or from person to person through direct contact with bodily fluids,or with environments/objects contaminated by the bodily fluids of a personinfected or deceased from the Marburg virus. The incubation period of the diseaseranges from 2 to 21 days. Patients initially show signs of high fever,headache, discomfort, followed by diarrhea, abdominal pain, muscle aches,nausea, vomiting, and bleeding. Currently, there is no specific vaccine ortreatment for the disease. The ministry stressed that this is a particularly dangerousdisease with a high transmission and mortality rate, up to 50% and possibly 88%.The disease is classified as Group A under Vietnam's Law on Prevention andControl of Infectious Diseases. In order toprevent the disease from entering Vietnam, the ministry asked them to closelymonitor immigrants in the community and medical facilities to early detectsuspected cases for epidemiological investigation. Attention must be paid to thosefrom African countries hit by the disease within 21 days. Samples must be taken for diagnostic testing. If there isany infected cases, healthcare staff must work closely together to prevent it from spreadingto the community. Localitiesshould come up with plans to respond to any outbreaks, stay ready withmedicines, equipment, workforce and funding to receive and treat patients. The ministry urged providing training courses for medical staffat all levels on prevention and control measures, as well as care andtreatment./.