Health

Marburg virus ‘will not become the next pandemic’ but should be monitored, doctor says

Published

2 years ago

April 10, 2023

Marburg virus ‘will not become the next pandemic’ but should be monitored, doctor says

Amid reviews of two confirmed Marburg virus outbreaks within the African international locations of Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania, the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) launched an alert final week for U.S. medical doctors to maintain a watch out for any potential instances.

“At present, the chance of MVD [Marburg virus disease] in the US is low; nonetheless, clinicians ought to pay attention to the potential for imported instances,” the CDC said within the alert.

“You will need to systematically assess sufferers for the potential of viral hemorrhagic fevers.”

MARBURG VIRUS: CDC WARNS US PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS OF EBOLA-LIKE DISEASE

The CDC defines the Marburg virus — which has been in comparison with the Ebola virus — as a “uncommon however extreme hemorrhagic fever, which impacts each folks and non-human primates.”

Fox Information medical contributor and NYU Langone inside medication specialist Dr. Marc Siegel appeared on the Fox Information Channel to share his perspective on the virus.

Virus is much like Ebola

The Marburg virus isn’t new — it was first found in 1967, when outbreaks occurred in labs in Marburg and Frankfurt (each in Germany) and in Serbia (previously Belgrade, Yugoslavia).

Nevertheless, Dr. Siegel mentioned extra sustained outbreaks are taking place the place it was once sporadic.

“It is a virus that comes from bats — it’s similar to Ebola,” he mentioned on “Fox & Pals” on Monday, April 10.

Fox Information medical contributor and NYU Langone inside medication specialist Dr. Marc Siegel (proper) appeared on “Fox and Pals” on Monday to share his perspective on the virus. Signs of Marburg embrace nausea, vomiting, sore throat, chest ache, belly ache and diarrhea. (Fox Information)

The Marburg virus is unfold by the Egyptian fruit bat, which is present in each Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania, per the CDC.

“We noticed a fairly large outbreak in Tanzania, which it appears to me like they’ve gotten management over, as only a few persons are being quarantined now,” mentioned Dr. Siegel. “However in Equatorial Guinea, there’s an issue.”

Dr. Siegel expressed concern that the governments of the countries where the Marburg outbreaks have occurred aren’t sharing the full details.

Dr. Siegel expressed concern that the governments of the international locations the place the Marburg outbreaks have occurred aren’t sharing the complete particulars. (Fox Information)

Signs of Marburg embrace nausea, vomiting, sore throat, chest ache, belly ache and diarrhea, the CDC said.

Extra extreme instances can result in irritation of the pancreas, jaundice, delirium, extreme weight reduction, shock, hemorrhaging and organ failure.

On account of its similarity to the Ebola virus, the CDC recommends that medical doctors comply with the identical protocols for an infection prevention and management when coping with instances of the Marburg virus.

‘They’re hiding instances’

Dr. Siegel expressed concern that the governments of the international locations the place the Marburg outbreaks have occurred aren’t sharing the complete particulars.

“It’s the standard drawback — they’re not telling us something.”

“It’s the standard drawback — they’re not telling us something,” he mentioned. “They’re hiding instances. There have most likely been not less than 29 deaths.”

Dr. Siegel additionally condemned the World Well being Group (WHO) for not reacting appropriately.

“The World Well being Group, as regular, is limp — not doing what they’re purported to be doing right here, which might be to get a vaccine in there,” he mentioned.

Officials in Equatorial Guinea first declared a Marburg outbreak on Feb. 13. The first Tanzanian outbreak was declared on March 21.

Officers in Equatorial Guinea first declared a Marburg outbreak on Feb. 13. The primary Tanzanian outbreak was declared on March 21. (Fox Information)

Dr. Siegel famous that there’s a vaccine for the Marburg virus — and that the beneficial plan of action can be to conduct a “ring vaccination” across the people who find themselves most affected.

With the ring vaccination strategy, a vaccine is given to an individual who’s uncovered to a virus, together with anybody else who has been in shut contact with that particular person, per WebMD.

This technique was used to assist finish the smallpox outbreaks within the mid-1900s.

Marburg virus shouldn’t be airborne

One piece of excellent information that Dr. Siegel shared: In contrast to the COVID-19 virus, the Marburg virus doesn’t unfold by way of the air.

CDC WARNS OF MARBURG VIRUS AFTER DEADLY AFRICA OUTBREAK

“It’s fairly secure, so it doesn’t mutate the best way we noticed with COVID,” he mentioned on “Fox & Pals.”

“It spreads by way of shut contact by way of secretions.”

Secretions embrace bodily fluids equivalent to blood, saliva, plasma, semen and urine.

“However it’s a horrible virus and it causes a reasonably excessive loss of life price,” Dr. Siegel famous. “We undoubtedly have to control it, as a result of we don’t need to see any instances right here [in the U.S.] — however we don’t have management of the state of affairs.”

The Marburg virus is spread by the Egyptian fruit bat, which is found in both Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania, per the CDC.

The Marburg virus is unfold by the Egyptian fruit bat, which is present in each Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania, per the CDC. (Getty Pictures)

“And once more, I’m disenchanted in each the WHO and the native governments, as a result of it might probably clearly unfold round Western Africa,” he added.

Marburg not more likely to grow to be the following pandemic

Dr. Siegel was clear: He doesn’t suppose the Marburg virus will grow to be the following pandemic, as “it’s too secure to mutate in that route.”

“In nature, this isn’t going to trigger a pandemic.”

He did categorical concern, nonetheless, about viruses being “performed with” within the lab.

“I can’t inform you 100% that one thing received’t occur in a lab,” he mentioned. “That’s the place my concern is. However in nature, this isn’t going to trigger a pandemic — it’s solely going to trigger sporadic outbreaks. And it may be managed, because it simply was in Tanzania.”

Due to the Marburg virus' similarity to the Ebola virus, the CDC recommends that doctors follow the same protocols for infection prevention and control when dealing with cases (enlarged particles of the Marburg virus pictured).

Because of the Marburg virus’ similarity to the Ebola virus, the CDC recommends that medical doctors comply with the identical protocols for an infection prevention and management when coping with instances (enlarged particles of the Marburg virus pictured). (Getty Pictures)

Vice President Kamala Harris was simply in Tanzania a few weeks in the past, mentioned Dr. Siegel — however there is a “actually low probability” that she would have been uncovered.

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“We must always not over-hype this, however we needs to be conscious,” the physician mentioned. “And our public well being organizations, particularly the WHO, will not be successfully coming to bear on it.”

Officers in Equatorial Guinea first declared a Marburg outbreak on Feb. 13.

The primary Tanzanian outbreak was declared on March 21.

There are presently no confirmed instances of the Marburg virus within the U.S.

Health

Treating Other Diseases With Ozempic? Experts Weigh In | Woman's World

Published

5 hours ago

January 18, 2025

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Treating Other Diseases With Ozempic? Experts Weigh In | Woman’s World

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Health

FDA bans red food dye due to potential cancer risk

Published

5 hours ago

January 17, 2025

Press Room

FDA bans red food dye due to potential cancer risk

FDA looks to ban red food dye

Celebrity fitness trainer Jillian Michaels joins ‘Hannity’ to discuss the possibility of the FDA banning red food dye.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has officially banned red dye — called Red 3, or Erythrosine — from foods, dietary supplements and ingested medicines, as reported by the Associated Press on Wednesday.

Food manufacturers must remove the dye from their products by January 2027, while drug manufacturers will have until January 2028 to do so, AP stated.

Any foods imported into the U.S. from other countries will also be subject to the new regulation.

RED FOOD DYE COULD SOON BE BANNED AS FDA REVIEWS PETITION

“The FDA is taking action that will remove the authorization for the use of FD&C Red No. 3 in food and ingested drugs,” said Jim Jones, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for human foods, in a statement.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has officially banned red dye — called Red 3, or Erythrosine — from foods, dietary supplements and ingested medicines (iStock)

“Evidence shows cancer in laboratory male rats exposed to high levels of FD&C Red No.3,” he continued. “Importantly, the way that FD&C Red No. 3 causes cancer in male rats does not occur in humans.”

The synthetic dye, which is made from petroleum, is used as a color additive in food and ingested drugs to give them a “bright cherry-red color,” according to an online statement from the FDA.

Food manufacturers must remove the dye from their products by January 2027, while drug manufacturers will have until January 2028 to do so. (iStock)

The petition to ban the dye cited the Delaney Clause, which states that the agency cannot classify a color additive as safe if it has been found to induce cancer in humans or animals.

The dye was removed from cosmetics nearly 35 years ago due to potential cancer risk.

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“This is a welcome, but long overdue, action from the FDA: removing the unsustainable double standard in which Red 3 was banned from lipstick but permitted in candy,” said Dr. Peter Lurie, director of the group Center for Science in the Public Interest, which led the petition effort, as reported by AP.

Nearly 3,000 foods are shown to contain Red No. 3, according to Food Scores, a database of foods compiled by the Environmental Working Group. (iStock)

Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and Fox News senior medical analyst, applauded the FDA’s ban.

“It was a long time coming,” he told Fox News Digital. “It’s been more than 30 years since it was banned from cosmetics in the U.S. due to evidence that it is carcinogenic in high doses in lab rats. There needs to be a consistency between what we put on our skin and what we put into our mouths.”

“There needs to be a consistency between what we put on our skin and what we put into our mouths.”

Siegel said he believes the FDA’s decision could be tied to the incoming new head of the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

“They knew it would have happened anyway under RFK Jr.,” he said. “It is already banned or severely restricted in Australia, Japan and the European Union.”

The food additive also “drew kids in” to a diet of empty calories and ultraprocessed foods, one doctor stated. (iStock)

The food additive also “drew kids in” to a diet of empty calories and ultraprocessed foods, Siegel added.

“It has also been linked to behavioral issues in children, including ADHD.”

Nearly 3,000 foods are shown to contain Red No. 3, according to Food Scores, a database of foods compiled by the Environmental Working Group.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health

The National Confectioners Association provided the below statement to Fox News Digital.

“Food safety is the number one priority for U.S. confectionery companies, and we will continue to follow and comply with FDA’s guidance and safety standards.”

The petition to remove Red No. 3 from foods, supplements and medications was presented in 2022 by the Center for Science in the Public Interest and 23 other organizations and scientists.

Melissa Rudy is senior health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to melissa.rudy@fox.com.

Health

How Yvette Nicole Brown Lost Weight and Got Her Diabetes Under Control

Published

13 hours ago

January 17, 2025

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How Yvette Nicole Brown Lost Weight and Got Her Diabetes Under Control

Yvette Nicole Brown’s Weight Loss and Diabetes Management | Woman’s World

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