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Should we worry about Marburg?

Why Marburg is a concern in Africa but not yet globally; plus more on the aftermath of Helene

October 1, 2024

Health News: 

  • Large parts of North Carolina are in desperate need of potable drinking water after Hurricane Helene. (NC Health News)
  • Helene closed a major medical manufacturing plant that makes IV fluids for many hospitals, putting more stress on the supply chain. (Axios)
  • A temporary flood wall protected Tampa General Hospital from damage. (Washington Post)
  • Egg prices are spiking - up 28% in August - due to bird flu. (CNN)
  • Minnesota reported a death from rabies, only the 5th since 1975. Rabies is a preventable disease that kills just ten people per year in the entire U.S. (NY Times)
  • California had its fourth case of locally-acquired dengue this year, alarming experts who fear that it will get worse with climate change. (The Hill)
  • Rwanda confirmed its first outbreak of the highly deadly Marburg disease, with 27 cases and 9 deaths so far, mostly in healthcare workers. (Bloomberg)
  • The WHO says the risk of Marburg spreading to neighboring countries is high, but the risk of global spread is still relatively low. (STAT)
  • Only 56% of newborns are protected from potentially-deadly RSV through vaccination or antibodies. (MMWR)
  • Whooping cough cases are rising, fueled by fewer childhood vaccinations. But even vaccinated kids can get it because protection wanes over the years. (Bloomberg)

Mental Health & Substance Use News:

  • Volunteers are mobilizing to offer mental health support in the wake of Helene. (NBC)
  • The pipeline of fentanyl into the U.S. may be drying up. (NPR)
  • State laws targeting trans people caused a 72% increase in suicide attempts among trans and nonbinary youth. (NBC)
  • Arkansas sued YouTube over claims that it’s hurting youth mental health. (AP)

If you or someone you know may be considering suicide or need help, call or text 988.

Best Questions:

What are the health risks related to flooding? 

In the U.S., floods actually kill more people each year than tornadoes, hurricanes or lightning. Flooding can pose serious health risks, including physical dangers like drowning (floodwaters can move faster than expected), electrocution due to hidden downed power lines, and other physical hazards that people can’t see through the murky water, from sharp objects to animals. There are less tangible threats, too, including water- and food-borne illnesses like E. coli, salmonella, or shigella. We’ve seen boil water notices across Hurricane Helene’s path of destruction due to contaminated drinking water, which makes preparing food safely a real challenge. Even after floodwaters recede, there are lingering health impacts from mold and mildew. If your home or business have been impacted by flooding, avoid walking or driving through floodwaters and call in professionals to help with cleanup. And don’t neglect mental health, as well. Check in with employees, family, and friends, and know that there’s help out there for anyone feeling overwhelmed or hopeless. 

Sources: CBS, FEMA, NBC

What is Marburg disease and should we be worried?

Marburg disease is a rare hemorrhagic fever caused by a virus that’s biologically very similar to Ebola. It spills over from a specific type of bat to humans, and then spreads between humans through contact with the body fluids of an infected person. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, vomiting and diarrhea, and eventually a rash that’s usually on the torso. As the disease progresses, symptoms can become more severe and include shock, hemorrhaging, and organ failure. Up to 90% of people infected die, so it’s a very serious illness. In the current outbreak in Rwanda, there have been 27 cases and 8 deaths (up two from last week). The majority of the deaths are in healthcare workers caring for sick patients in the ICU, likely due to high levels of exposure to body fluids both directly from the sick person and indirectly from their bedsheets, needles, and equipment. There’s definitely a high risk of Marburg spreading to nearby countries and even throughout sub-Saharan Africa, made more likely due to the fact that this outbreak is in Kigali, a capital city with a large international airport. In fact, there’s a close contact of one patient who traveled to Belgium within the incubation period, but the WHO has said the global risk remains low. The good news is that Rwanda has a robust healthcare system, and the WHO has sent a team of experts to help with their response. For now, we’re just keeping an eye on this, but we are not worried about an outbreak affecting the U.S. right now. 
Sources:
STAT, CDC


Best Read:

It’s no coincidence that we’ve had to add a mosquito-borne disease section to this newsletter throughout the summer. The problem of mosquitoes and the diseases they carry will only continue to worsen as climate change creates prime conditions for the bloodsuckers. We liked this BBC read to learn more about what to expect:

'A warmer, sicker world': Mosquitoes carrying deadly diseases are on an unstoppable march across the US - BBC