Health Essentials
The Marburg virus disease – should we be worried?
“Ghana has confirmed its first two cases of the deadly Marburg virus, a highly infectious disease in the same family as the virus that causes the feared Ebola.”
As deadly as this disease is, all the two who tested positive for the virus died. Fortunately, the 98 contacts are all well and even the 13 who were randomly tested had negative results.
The questions on our minds include; where did they contract this disease from since no others have so far been diagnosed? They both had no history of travel outside the country and may not even ever had contact.
It appears the world is under attack from viruses and over the past few years this has become pronounced fuelling the thoughts of conspiracy theorists BUT we should at all times be cautious whenever there is the need for close contact with others AND we have to love one another and isolate when we are unwell while we get professional medical advice.
What is the Marburg virus? How is it transmitted? What are its symptoms? Is there a cure for the disease it inflicts on one’s body? How can one protect themselves from the virus? Read on for the answers to these questions.
WHAT THE MARBURG VIRUS IS
The Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) is a rare but severe hemorrhagic fever which affects both people and non-human primates. In simple terms, the virus affects multiple organ systems in the body and is accompanied by hemorrhage (bleeding).
It became known when it affected and killed some thirty-one people in Marburg and Frankfurt, Germany in 1967. Many of us in Ghana are familiar with Ebola Virus that is related to Marburg virus and as we are aware is also deadlier than one can ever imagine.
HOW THE MVS IS TRANSMITTED
The initial transmission (primary transmission) is from non-human primates, most especially the African Fruit Bat through their faeces and urine. Secondarily, it spreads in high numbers from person to person through close contacts, such as,
- Through broken skin or mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, or mouth or body fluids (urine, saliva, sweat, faeces, vomit, breast milk, amniotic fluid, and semen) of a person who is sick with or died from Marburg virus disease.
- Through infected needles, clothing and bed sheets. It is important for Health Practitioners to protect themselves using specialised personal protective equipment which covers them from head to toe while dealing with cases of such calibre.
- From infected people to their family members who are caring for them or preparing the dead for burial. Report to the hospital early if a family member shows any sign of the symptoms below and always wait for the autopsy report and clearance from the hospital before taking home a deceased family member for burial rites.
Thankfully, people who contract the Marburg virus typically don’t become contagious until they develop symptoms. It is important to note that there are no research findings that show that the virus can be spread through insect bites.
SYMPTOMS OF THE MARBURG VIRUS DISEASE
Like other viruses, the Marburg Virus Disease has an incubation (time from contact to exhibition of symptoms) period of 2 to 21 days after which the patient suffers fever, chills, headaches, and mild to severe muscle pain.
Five days after the symptoms above start, the patient may experience a rash on their trunk (chest, back, stomach), accompanied by nausea, vomiting, sore throat, chest pain, abdominal pain and diarrhoea.
Symptoms become more severe as the days go by. These may include severe bleeding, shock, liver failure, inflammation of the pancreas, massive weight loss, and multi-organ dysfunction.
CLASSIC SYMPTOMS;
- fever
- bloody diarrhoea
- bleeding from gums
- bleeding into the skin
- bleeding into the eyes
- bloody urine
MVD often ends up in death from multiple organ failure. Other complications include seizures (fits) and delirium.
TREATMENT FOR THE MARBURG VIRUS DISEASE
There aren’t any approved treatments or vaccines for the Marburg Virus Disease. Patients are given supportive care i.e., rehydration both through intravenous and oral means, balancing patient’s electrolytes, improving oxygen status and blood pressure, replacing lost blood and managing blood clot challenges etc. The goal is to manage specific symptoms.
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE VIRUS
- Primarily, people should desist from having any contacts with fruit bats. As well as other primates such as monkeys, grasscutters etc. Avoid touching or eating these animals.
- Meat should be thoroughly cooked before eating
- Avoid caves and mines that may be harbouring the virus.
- With regards to human to human transmission, report to the nearest hospital in instances where you see any of the symptoms mentioned above on any relative or friend before assisting them. In instances where you have to assist the patient before the arrival of the medics, make sure to protect yourself before touching or assisting them.
- Medical practitioners should stick strictly to their safety routines when attending to patients including using the appropriate protective equipment.
- Wash your hands frequently and use your hand sanitizers in instances where there is the absence of soap and running water.
Recovery from this disease is slow and painful and the virus stays in one’s body for weeks while it takes months to regain your strength and the weight that is lost.
Note that THERE IS NO VACCINE to protect us from Marburg Virus Disease!!!!
The Marburg Virus Disease is quite rare but can spread very fast when a person contracts it. In Ghana, the Ghana Health Service has put in place measures that can help trace contacts and quarantine persons who have had contacts with infected persons.
Remember to follow all Covid-19 protocols as they go a long way to protect us from many other viruses including the Marburg Virus.
AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)
Augustina Amarh, Content Creator, Health Essentials Ltd
& Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
*Dr. Essel is a medical doctor, holds an MBA and is ISSA certified in exercise therapy, fitness nutrition and corrective exercise.
Thought for the week – “Don’t lose out on laughter, the benefits match Exercise, Meditation & Sex all rolled into one.”
References:
- https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-62202240
- https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/marburg-virus-disease
- https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/marburg/prevention/index.html
- GHS Press Release
By Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
The conventional wisdom has always been that we should all strive to keep our blood pressure low. Even though this is true, having really low blood pressure can be dangerous, as it can impair your body’s ability to absorb oxygen, resulting in damage to the heart and brain.
Low blood pressure is when your blood pressure reading is lower than 90 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) for the top number (systolic) or 60 mm Hg for the bottom number (diastolic).
Low blood pressure (also known as hypotension) can occur in anyone, though it may be more common depending on your age or other risk factors: genetic makeup, taking certain medications, and having certain diseases (diabetes, heart conditions).
The cause of low blood pressure isn’t always clear. However, it may be associated with the following:
- pregnancy
- hormonal problems
- some over-the-counter and prescription medications
- heart failure
- abnormal heart rhythms
- widening or dilation of the blood vessels
- heatstroke
- liver disease
- loss of blood from bleeding
- low or high body temperature
- a severe blood infection
- severe dehydration from vomiting, diarrhea, burns or fever
- a reaction to medication or alcohol
A sudden drop in blood pressure robs the brain of adequate blood supply. This can lead to dizziness or lightheadedness. Other symptoms include fainting, blurred vision, nausea, fatigue, lack of concentration, and in extreme conditions shock.
If you experience any of the above symptoms, seek emergency medical attention as it is important to determine the cause of low blood pressure so appropriate treatment can be given.
Some people are known to take alcohol in an attempt to increase their blood pressure but that is a path I will not recommend. Others opt for caffeinated drinks like coffee and tea. Caffeine can increase blood pressure due to peripheral pooling of blood and may cause complications.
Dr Kojo Essel often recommends that one engages in exercise, which is your best “weapon to normalise blood pressure.”
Quite often when one has low blood pressure, standing still for long periods of time can cause a further drop. In such people, Dr Essel highly recommends taking several steps even if standing in one place to help maintain blood pressure at a safe level.
Other ways of managing low blood pressure are:
- adding a little salt to food (do this with caution to avoid excesses and downsides of increased salt intake)
- increase water (other fluids) intake to increase blood volume
- may need to wear compression stockings in extreme situations
- some may require medication
- pay attention to body positions; do not move quickly from sitting to standing position for instance
- eat small portions of food at a time
- exercise should be a combination of strength training and cardiovascular exercise that increases heart rate
As always: laugh often, ensure hygiene, walk and pray every day, and remember it’s a priceless gift to know your numbers (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI).
Source:
Maureen Masopeh, Content Creator (Health Essentials Ltd)
References:
- Dr Kojo Cobba Essel; Unravelling the Essentials of Health and Wealth
- Mayoclinic; Low Blood Pressure (Hypotension)
- WebMD
By Dr Kojo Cobba Essel
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
IF you truly love yourself, you had better read this piece while standing!
The other “inactivity” that rivals sitting for long periods when it comes to poor health and untimely death is LONLINESS! Sitting and Loneliness are the new Smoking.
It is often common to hear a parent tell a child, “Sit quietly and watch television and I will make a quick dash to town.” Well, this harmless and well-meaning statement is now being vilified. That parent could have said “smoke a few sticks of cigarettes while I dash off to town.” Yes “sitting is the “new” smoking.”
Scientists: they keep coming up with many weird findings and unfortunately, we realise after much ado that they may be right. People with sitting jobs have twice the rate of cardiovascular (heart & blood vessel) diseases as those with standing jobs – the bankers are cringing in their seats I bet.
It appears that compared to sitting,
• Sitting continuously brings similar challenges that smoking poses a gossip team. After an hour of sitting, if you walk for a minute or two.
Standing is hard work. Imagine that you need to engage many muscles to stand upright, and this burns energy. Sitting on the other hand is extremely relaxing.
When we sit, the “physiology of inactivity” kicks in and when we think we are relaxing in a chair made from heaven, our body instead rewards us with many bad things; enzymes that break down fat may drop by about 90 per cent calorie burning drops to frightening low levels and soon good cholesterol that protects us also drops. If you sit long enough even your insulin effectiveness drops and you will be courting diabetes in the long run.
I sincerely believe in getting a workout during the day, but you should not think that it gives you a license to sit at your desk for hours on end. We should ensure that we get up from our desk to walk briefly or even stretch. I am not giving you an excuse for loitering around your office or forming ings. When you have a meeting with a handful of people you could lace your boots and start walking while you talk. Who knows being out of a box (office etc) could help you think “out of the box” or even think like “there is no box”. The best aspect of such a meeting is people are more attentive since they are unable to fidget with their smart phones and other gadgets.
All lectures and classes (children are really suffering in school these days) should have a “Heart Preserving” five-minute break after every hour. Spend that time walking and stretching.
All long movies should have commercial breaks that should be used to at least stand
Whenever in doubt, at least stand for a while.
Well some people are trying innovative ways of even having small treadmills at their desk that keeps them moving, others are adopting a new chair design that essentially makes you stand at your desk, a few others sit on exercise balls that forces them to adjust their positions all the time but for the rest of us simply taking breaks and using every opportunity to move is just what the doctor prescribed.
AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, WALK AND PRAY EVERY DAY AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)
Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
Health Essentials/Medics Clinic
(www.healthessentialsgh.com)
Dr. Essel is a medical doctor with a keen interest in Lifestyle Medicine, He holds an MBA and is ISSA certified in exercise therapy, fitness nutrition and corrective exercise. He is the author of the award-winning book, ‘Unravelling The Essentials of Health & Wealth.’
Thought for the week – For good heart health; exercise often, eat healthy, do not smoke, minimise alcohol and sit less
By Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
