Page8 <strong>The</strong><strong>Trumpet</strong> AUGUST <strong>11</strong> - <strong>24</strong> <strong>2021</strong>
News AUGUST <strong>11</strong> - <strong>24</strong> <strong>2021</strong> <strong>The</strong><strong>Trumpet</strong> West Africa’s first-ever case of Marburg virus disease confirmed Page9 Health authorities in Guinea have confirmed a case of Marburg virus disease in the southern Gueckedou prefecture. This is the first time Marburg, a highly infectious disease that causes haemorrhagic fever, has been identified in the country, and in West Africa. Marburg, which is in the same family as the virus that causes Ebola, was detected less than two months after Guinea declared an end to an Ebola outbreak that erupted earlier this year. Samples taken from a nowdeceased patient and tested by a field laboratory in Gueckedou as well as Guinea’s national haemorrhagic fever laboratory turned out positive for the Marburg virus. Further analysis by the Institut Pasteur in Senegal confirmed the result. <strong>The</strong> patient had sought treatment at a local clinic in Koundou area of Gueckedou, where a medical investigation team had been dispatched to probe his worsening symptoms. “We applaud the alertness and the quick investigative action by Guinea’s health workers. <strong>The</strong> potential for the Marburg virus to spread far and wide means we need to stop it in its tracks,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa. “We are working with the health authorities to implement a swift response that builds on Guinea’s past experience and expertise in managing Ebola, which is transmitted in a similar way.” Gueckedou, where Marburg has been confirmed, is also the same region where cases of the <strong>2021</strong> Ebola outbreak in Guinea as well as the 2014–2016 West Africa outbreak were initially detected. Efforts are underway to find the people who may have been in contact with the patient. As the disease is appearing for the first time in the country, health authorities are launching public education and community mobilization to raise awareness and galvanize support to help curb widespread infection. An initial team of 10 WHO experts, including epidemiologists and socioanthropologists is on the ground helping to investigate the case and supporting the national health authorities to swiftly step-up emergency response, including risk assessment, disease surveillance, community mobilization, testing, clinical care, infection prevention as well as logistical support. Cross-border surveillance is also being enhanced to quickly detect any cases, with neighbouring countries on alert. <strong>The</strong> Ebola control systems in place in Guinea and in neighbouring countries are proving crucial to the emergency response to the Marburg virus. Marburg is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials. Illness begins abruptly, with high fever, severe headache and malaise. Many patients develop severe haemorrhagic signs within seven days. Case fatality rates have varied from <strong>24</strong>% to 88% in past outbreaks depending on virus strain and case management. Although there are no vaccines or antiviral treatments approved to treat the virus, supportive care – rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids – and treatment of specific symptoms, improves survival. A range of potential treatments, including blood products, immune therapies and drug therapies, are being evaluated. In Africa, previous outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, South Africa and Uganda. Alone and Afraid: Protecting unaccompanied migrant children along the ‘Eastern Route’ Continued from Page 4< starts the family tracing and assessment process to identify the best type of reintegration assistance upon return. In Amara’s case, she was placed in a children’s shelter run by Caritas in Djibouti City while a ‘best interests’ panel – the first of its kind in Djibouti, convened for the most sensitive protection cases – was organized to determine an appropriate action plan. <strong>The</strong> panel, comprising key protection actors in Djibouti – including the Ministry of Women and Family, the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, United Nations Agencies, local NGOs and other protection partners, as well as the Ethiopian Embassy – unanimously decided to return Amara to Ethiopia, her country of origin. This would allow her to reunite with family and receive follow-up care. While the panel was making its decision, IOM staff ensured Amara received mental health and psychosocial (MHPSS) support by referring her to a clinical psychologist trained to work with traumatized children. This type of care is a critical service provided to migrants, especially children, who arrive at the MRC. In addition to one-on-one counselling, IOM staff regularly lead focus groups that allow the children to discuss the difficulties they experienced during their journeys and the fears they may have about returning home. To help ensure they remain busy throughout the day, an IOM MHPSS Assistant develops a schedule complete with activities such as martial arts and gardening. Just over two months after her tragic ordeal, Amara left Djibouti on <strong>24</strong> June <strong>2021</strong>, accompanied by the IOM protection focal person for UMCs in Djibouti, to reunite with her surviving family members in Ethiopia. Her travel was coordinated by staff from IOM Djibouti and Ethiopia who ensured that Amara would safely reach her destination. Now that she has joined her family, IOM staff in Ethiopia will continue to follow up with Amara and support her reintegration. Thousands of migrants, including unaccompanied children like Amara, remain stranded along the ‘Eastern route’. To continue providing life-saving return and reintegration services, IOM has launched an appeal for USD 99 million, for which additional support is desperately needed. Crucially, this appeal will also support Member States to strengthen child protection mechanisms along this route. Sadly, Amara’s story is only one of thousands of untold tragedies experienced every day by migrants along the perilous ‘Eastern route’. Together with governments and humanitarian partners, IOM is committed to addressing the dire humanitarian, human rights, safety and security challenges faced by migrants in the region – especially unaccompanied children like Amara. IOM’s voluntary return and reintegration support in the East and Horn of Africa is made possible thanks to the EU-IOM Joint Initiative, a three-way partnership between the European Union (EU), IOM, and 26 African countries. Since March 2017, over 7,000 migrants in the region have returned home and more than 9,000 returnees have started the reintegration process to re-establish their lives in Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan, as well as in Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, South Sudan and Uganda. *Amara’s name has been changed to protect her privacy. This story was written by Amber Christino, Media and Communications Officer at the IOM Regional Office for the East and Horn of Africa, Email: achristino@iom.int
Change language