Uzbekistan has stepped up precautions to prevent the spread of the Marburg virus, the press service of the Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health said.

On September 29, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported a recorded case of Marburg hemorrhagic fever in Rwanda.

Reportedly, 26 confirmed cases of the disease have been registered in 7 of 30 districts of Rwanda as of September 28, of which 6 were fatal. Most of the patients are employees of two medical organizations in the capital of Rwanda, Kigali.

WHO assessed the threat level of this epidemic as very high at the national level, high at the regional level, and low at the global level.

To prevent the spread of the Marburg virus and step up precautions, a number of countries around the world, including Uzbekistan, have increased the readiness of sanitary checkpoints (SCPs) operating at state border crossing points, the Sanitary and Epidemiological Committee noted.

The following measures are being taken to prevent the spread of Marburg fever:

• timely identification and isolation of patients suspected of having Marburg haemorrhagic fever in specialized isolation wards;
• medical personnel in contact with suspected patients must observe standard precautions and use personal protective equipment to prevent transmission of infection, as well as avoid contact with the blood of patients suspected of having the virus, their body fluids and surfaces contaminated with them;
• improving the qualifications of medical workers on the etiology, clinical picture, laboratory diagnostics, prophylaxis and prevention of the disease;
• use of safe injection techniques, correct use of personal protective equipment, disinfection of reusable medical instruments and safe disposal of waste during disease control;
• conducting explanatory work among the population to increase awareness of the virus.