According to comprehensive media reports, the World Health Organization report pointed out that the Pomaburg outbreak first broke out in Equatorial Guinea, Central Africa in early February this year. As of March 21, there have been 9 confirmed cases and 20 suspected cases. Seven people died, and all 20 suspected cases died. Since the new cases are distributed in many different provinces, it means that the virus has spread, and there may be undiscovered chains of community transmission.
In addition, Tanzania, an East African country, had 8 confirmed cases as of March 21, of which 5 had died. The World Health Organization stated that Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania have never had a reported case of the virus in the past, and the distance between the two countries is 1,800 miles (about 2,900 kilometers). The exact way the virus entered the two countries has not yet been clarified.
As of the end of March, a total of 9 countries have reported infection cases.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a warning to travelers to Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania, calling for avoiding contact with sick people and non-essential travel to outbreak areas, and announced that it will send researchers to these two countries to help stop the outbreak Continue to spread.
Public information shows that Marburg virus is the cause of Marburg hemorrhagic fever, which is similar to Ebola virus and is a zoonotic infectious disease. People who suffer from this disease will experience high fever, diarrhea, vomiting and bleeding. The origin of the virus is unknown. Marburg virus can be transmitted through bodily fluids (including blood and saliva), excreta and vomit, and has caused intermittent outbreaks. There is currently no vaccine or cure.
The earliest record of Marburg hemorrhagic fever was an outbreak in Marburg, Germany in 1967, and the disease was named after the place. Later, cases were also reported in Frankfurt and Belgrade. Of the 29 cases at the time, seven died, according to figures from the World Health Organization cited by the BBC.
The next two major outbreaks were in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1998-2000, with 154 cases and 128 deaths. An outbreak occurred in Angola in 2005 with 374 cases and 329 deaths.