Issue Brief: Marburg Virus Disease

On the 27^th of September, a Marburg virus disease outbreak was confirmed by Rwanda‘s Ministry of Health. The Marburg virus is a highly virulent disease with a case fatality rate of 50% and clinically similar to Ebola disease. It spreads between people through direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected people. The symptoms begin abruptly, with high fever, severe headaches, muscle ache, fatigue, vomiting, and severe watery diarrhoea. In fatal cases, people die due to severe blood loss and shock Over 70% of infected people are healthcare workers who treated infected patients.To prevent an infection with the virus it is important to avoid close contact with symptomatic people, enhance hygiene, and avoid handshakes or close greetings. The Issue Brief provides clinical guidelines, information about prevention and control of the virus, and material about communication and training to immediately respond to the outbreak and ensure efficient treatment. Please find furhter information in our Ebola &Marburg Toolbox

Issue Brief: Mpox Update

On 14 August 2024, the Director-General of the World Health Organization declares the ongoing mpox outbreak an international health emergency. This Issue Brief gives an overview of the current situation and collects material regarding prevention and control, clinical aspects as well as training and education. In light of the reemergence of the outbreak, we encourage you to revisit our resources on mpox in our Rapid Response Toolbox, which was originally published during the 2022 outbreak and remains up to date. This resource provides a comprehensive insight into the virus, its symptoms, prevention measures and global impact. Stay informed and prepared and access this important information.

Caregivers have a major impact on maintaining health services and improving the health status of the population. The daily work in nursing, however, requires good organization, a high sense of responsibility, and continuous education on the latest standards of care. MEDBOX produced a video that is specifically addressed to caregivers. It explains the structure and content of the Caregiver Toolbox, tells stories from caregivers around the world and shows how the online library can simplify their work. Please find the video.