The WHO issued the warning on 3/9 after health officials in Mweka district, Kasai province, recorded 8 deaths with Ebola-like symptoms. Samples are being analyzed to determine the exact pathogen, but authorities suspect the Marburg virus (MVD), a relative of Ebola, is responsible. According to the Daily Star, MVD has a very high fatality rate and is nicknamed "bleeding eye disease" due to its ability to damage blood vessels, causing bleeding in various parts of the body, including the eyes.
Congo has identified the potential for community spread and has quarantined hundreds of people, implementing disinfection measures in affected areas.
Marburg spreads through person-to-person contact, via broken skin, or the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, and mouth. The virus can also be transmitted through blood or bodily fluids (urine, saliva, sweat, feces, vomit, breast milk, amniotic fluid, and semen) of infected individuals. People can also contract the disease by touching objects contaminated with these fluids.
Those most at risk are individuals in direct contact with patients, especially family members providing home care or hospital staff.
After an incubation period of 2-21 days, symptoms appear suddenly, including fever, chills, headache, and muscle pain. By day 5, a maculopapular rash may develop, most prominent on the trunk (chest, back, stomach). Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, chest pain, sore throat, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. More severe symptoms include jaundice, pancreatitis, severe weight loss, delirium, shock, liver failure, massive bleeding, and multiple organ dysfunction.
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Illustrative photo: Unilad |
Illustrative photo: Unilad
Simultaneously, the WHO is also raising the alarm about another deadly disease, cholera, which is spreading globally. Since the beginning of the year, over 400,000 cholera cases have been reported in 31 countries, with nearly 5,000 deaths. Experts believe war, poverty, and climate change are the main drivers of the spread.
A WHO spokesperson described the situation as "very alarming" as cholera outbreaks continue to escalate. Seven of the 31 countries experiencing outbreaks have reported a case fatality rate of over 1%. "This highlights serious gaps in case management and delays in access to treatment," the spokesperson said.
Four countries—Chad, Congo, South Sudan, and Sudan—are classified as having "large outbreaks" due to their scale and severity. Cross-border movement, especially in areas with weak controls and high traffic, increases the risk of further spread.
The WHO is calling for urgent public health action, including improved case management, provision of clean water and sanitation, increased vaccination efforts, and cross-border collaboration. Otherwise, cholera "has the potential to spread to other countries." Previously, some countries implemented travel restrictions to prevent the spread. While these recommendations have now been lifted, experts advise travelers to remain cautious and vigilant.
Binh Minh (According to Express, Daily Star)
