An outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) occurred in Equatorial Guinea in January 2023. The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Equatorial Guinea declared this outbreak on 13 February 2023 after they reported some suspected viral haemorrhagic fever deaths and a positive case in February 2023.
What is Marburg virus disease (MVD)
Marburg virus disease (MVD) is a rare disease. It causes severe hemorrhagic fever and affects both humans and some specific animals. The viral hemorrhagic fever is a very serious disease that may cause death of life. It affects and damages many organ systems of the body including the overall cardiovascular system. This disease also reduces the body’s ability to function on its own. It damages the walls of tiny blood vessels causing bleeding, or hemorrhaging. The infection by Marburg virus or Ravn virus, both within genus Marburgvirus, causes this disease. Marburgviruses are zoonotic (or animal-borne) RNA viruses (CDC, 2023). There are no well-established cure or vaccines for all types of diseases.
Co-operation by WHO and Other International Organizations
EDCARN (the Emerging Diseases Clinical Assessment and Response Network) deployed six clinical experts to support the Ministry of Health and mitigate the Marburg virus disease outbreak in Equatorial Guinea. The Global Outbreak and Response Network (GOARN) recruited the clinical experts of different specialty, such as infectious diseases, critical care, and paediatrics. A 20-bed treatment centre and ambulance referral system were established in Bata district of Equatorial Guinea, because this district was the most affected area by Marburg virus disease (MVD).
Reference
Source: WHO, Marburg virus disease outbreak in Equatorial Guinea, 8 June 2023 Departmental news. URL: https://www.who.int/news/item/08-06-2023-marburg-virus-disease-outbreak-in-equatorial-guinea
Source: CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology (DHCPP), Viral Special Pathogens Branch (VSPB), Last Reviewed: April 19, 2023. Url: https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/marburg/about.html
Dispensing medication for two months instead of current one month policy in Australia
Currently, the pharmacy provides the patients with medicines of one month from a single script. The patients have to go to the pharmacy every month to pick up medicines which spends time and money of the patients. Therefore, AMA (Australian Medical Association) President Professor Steve Robson called on the federal government to implement the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) recommendation to increase the maximum dispensed quantities of selected PBS (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) items from one month’s supply to two month’s supply (published on 16 Feb 2023). This policy change could save the time and money of the patients which would be equal to millions of dollars each year.
