The Ministry of Health (MISAU) gave assurances on Friday afternoon in Maputo that the country is prepared to face and control possible outbreaks of hemorrhagic diseases, such as the Marburg virus and Ebola.
The health authorities gave an update on the current epidemiological situation, highlighting the risks and surveillance measures in place.
"The risks of Marburg and Ebola remain low for our country. However, we are on alert and in maximum readiness to identify, contain and respond to any hemorrhagic fever and we have the laboratory capacity to do so," said Eduardo Samo Gudo, director general of the National Health Institute (INS).
Mozambican health authorities are on alert due to the registration of cases of disease associated with the Marburg virus in Tanzania. The neighboring country, which borders the Mozambican provinces of Niassa and Cabo Delgado, has already notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of nine suspected cases of hemorrhagic fever, eight of which have resulted in death, corresponding to a lethality of 90%.
In view of these events, samples were taken from some of the cases, one of which tested positive for the Marburg virus, and so on January 20, the Tanzanian Ministry of Health declared an outbreak of Marburg disease.
The Mozambican government is also focusing on other diseases such as measles and cholera, which continue to worry the authorities. With regard to measles, the deputy national director of Public Health, Aleny Couto, said that in January 2025, 1,191 cases were recorded, with the highest incidence in the provinces of Cabo Delgado, Niassa and Nampula, in the north of the country.
As for cholera, although the disease was initially reported in the Nametil district of Nampula, there have been no new cases for 45 days, and the authorities are now focusing on spreading the word about preventative measures.
The MoH emphasized that the country remains attentive to the evolution of the diseases and that the laboratory capacity and response teams are fully prepared to deal with any eventuality. (JM and JD)
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