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Marburg Virus Confirmed in Ghana as 2 Patients Die
Marburg Virus Confirmed in Ghana as 2 Patients Die
The deadly Marburg virus, a highly contagious illness in the same family as the virus that causes Ebola, has been confirmed in Ghana’s first two cases.
News Report that in the southern Ashanti area hospital, it is reported that both patients recently passed away.
Their samples tested positive earlier this month, and a Senegalese laboratory has since confirmed this.
According to health officials in the country of West Africa, 98 individuals are currently in isolation due to suspected contact cases.
Ghana’s quick action has been hailed by the World Health Organization (WHO), which is assisting the nation’s health authorities.
“This is good because without immediate and decisive action, Marburg can easily get out of hand,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO’s Africa director.
No treatment yet exists for Marburg – but doctors say drinking plenty of water and treating specific symptoms improves a patient’s chances of survival.
The virus is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads between humans through the transmission of bodily fluids.
It is a severe, often fatal illness with symptoms including headache, fever, muscle pains, vomiting blood and bleeding.
Officials are warning people to keep away from caves and to thoroughly cook all meat products before consuming them.
This is the second time that Marburg has been identified in West Africa. There was one confirmed case in Guinea last year, but that outbreak was declared over in September, five weeks after the case was identified.
Elsewhere on the continent, previous outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, South Africa and Uganda, the WHO says.
The virus killed more than 200 people in Angola in 2005, the deadliest outbreak on record according to the global health body.
The first ever Marburg outbreak was in Germany in 1967 where seven people died.
The virus killed more than 200 people in Angola in 2005, the deadliest outbreak on record according to the global health body.
