Migori County residents have been urged to be alert and report any cases of Marburg Haemorrhagic Fever (MHF) that has so far claimed five lives in Tanzania.
Migori County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health Julius Awuor called upon the county residents to seek immediate medical intervention if they experience symptoms like high fever, severe headache, diarrhoea and severe malaise that are related to MHF.
Awuor said that the county, in coordination with the national government, was not taking any chances towards ensuring that the disease does not spread across the border.
Although there was a report of a person suspected to have the symptoms and who allegedly crossed the Isebania border from Tanzania, no cases of MHF have so far been reported in the county or country at large.
The official confirmed that the surveillance team in coordination with the Interior Department would continue to camp at the Isebania border, Muhuru Bay and other entry points to screen and monitor border activities in order to contain the virus.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Key Facts 2021, the gestation period after the infection of Marburg may range between 2 to 21 days. The MHF virus spreads through human-to-human conduction via direct interaction from broken skin with the blood, secretions and other bodily fluids of infected persons.
By Geoffrey Makokha
