Following the confirmation of earlier findings by a World Health Organization Collaborating Center laboratory, Ghana has declared its first case of Marburg virus sickness.
Each of the two deceased, unrelated patients from the southern Ashanti area of Ghana who displayed symptoms like diarrhea, fever, nausea, and vomiting sent samples to the Institute Pasteur in Dakar, Senegal.
The laboratory supported the findings from the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, which suggested that the Marburg virus was to blame for their condition.
One instance involved a 26-year-old man who entered a hospital on June 26 and passed away on June 27.
A 51-year-old man who presented to the hospital on June 28 and passed away the same day was the second case. Within days of one another, the same hospital accepted both cases for treatment.
Two suspected instances of the virus in Ghana were reported on July 8.
The highly contagious Marburg virus belongs to the same family as the more well-known Ebola virus illness. Only twice has the zoonotic illness been identified in West Africa. In an outbreak that was reported to be over on September 16, 2021, five weeks after the first case was discovered, Guinea verified a solitary case.
Reports has it that Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda have all seen prior Marburg outbreaks as well as isolated instances.
The WHO has contacted neighboring high-risk countries, who are now on high alert.
Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, stated in a press release that “Health authorities have responded swiftly, getting a head start preparing for a possible outbreak. This is good because without immediate and decisive action, Marburg can easily get out of hand. WHO is on the ground supporting health authorities and now that the outbreak is declared, we are marshalling more resources for the response.”
More than 90 individuals, including health professionals and members of the community, have been identified and are being watched, according to the UN organization.
Marburg is spread among people by direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals, infected surfaces, and infected objects. It is transmitted to humans by fruit bats. Malaise, a severe headache, and a high fever signal the start of the illness.
WHO noted, “Many patients develop severe haemorrhagic signs within seven days. Case fatality rates have varied from 24 percent to 88 percent in past outbreaks depending on virus strain and the quality of case management. Although there are no vaccines or antiviral treatments approved to treat the virus, supportive care – rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids – and treatment of specific symptoms, improve survival.
“A range of potential treatments, including blood products, immune therapies, and drug therapies, as well as candidate vaccines with phase 1 data are being evaluated.”
