Cholera and Marburg outbreaks strain African healthcare sectors

According to Africa News on November 17th, Ethiopia recorded its first-ever outbreak of the Marburg virus, which is a fatal relative of the Ebola virus.

People living in rural parts of Ethiopia are worried, as news is circulating that the Marburg virus is spreading rapidly. Cases of the cholera virus are simultaneously rising across Africa. The two concurrent outbreaks are putting healthcare systems in Africa under immense pressure.

The Marburg virus is highly contagious and can be fatal. Isolation units have been set up, and emergency teams from the World Health Organisation and the Africa CDC have put measures into place to prepare. They have also been provided with protective equipment to contain the spread.

The virus reached Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea in June 2023. The latter had 13 confirmed cases of Marburg virus, nine of which were fatal. Tanzania confirmed 8 cases, five of which were deadly.

The World Health Organisation was working with Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea to ensure they had all the necessities, including medical equipment and expertise, to manage the virus.

At the time, there were more suspected cases around the world, including Spain, Ghana and Cameroon.

To make matters worse, cholera, an acute bacterial infection that typically causes watery diarrhoea or vomiting, has reached countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The disease has spread across the country, affecting at least 20 of 26 regions and more than 58,000 suspected cases. Populations with limited access to clean water and sanitation facilities are particularly vulnerable.

Moreover, Sudan has recorded over 120,000 cholera cases and more than 3,000 deaths. The severity of the outbreak has largely been caused by the devastation wrought on its healthcare sector amid a brutal civil war.

The rapid spread of both viruses is taking a toll on the medical personnel on the ground working to contain the outbreaks. Healthcare workers risk their lives trying to treat those who are infected.

The twin health crisis that is plaguing Africa is a warning that preventable diseases can quickly escalate when vulnerabilities go unnoticed. Bolstering the healthcare facilities is not just beneficial in the long term, but is also crucial right now.

Africa News, Maghrebi.org