WHO declares Marburg outbreak in Ghana, after first two cases of deadly Ebola-like virus reported
- No treatment or vaccine exists for Marburg, which is almost as deadly as Ebola. Symptoms include high fever as well as internal and external bleeding
- The Marburg virus can spread from infected animals, including bats through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected people and surfaces
Two cases of the deadly Marburg virus have been identified in Ghana, the first time the Ebola-like disease has been found in the West African nation, health authorities announced on Sunday.
Earlier in the month, blood samples taken from two people in the southern Ashanti region suggested the Marburg virus.
The samples were sent to the Pasteur Institute in Senegal which confirmed the diagnosis, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) said.
“This is the first time Ghana has confirmed Marburg Virus Disease,” said GHS head Patrick Kuma-Aboagye said in a statement.
No treatment or vaccine exists for Marburg, which is almost as deadly as Ebola. Its symptoms include high fever as well as internal and external bleeding.
A total of 98 people identified as contact cases are currently under quarantine, the GHS statement said, noting that no other cases of Marburg had yet been detected in Ghana.
