Marburg virus

No treatment or vaccine exists for Marburg, which can spread from infected animals such as bats.

“This is the first time Ghana has confirmed Marburg virus disease,” said the GHS head, Patrick Kuma-Aboagye. “This is good because without immediate and decisive action, Marburg can easily get out of hand. The World Health Organization declared Ghana’s first outbreak.

Ghana has announced that two cases of the deadly virus have been found in the Ashanti region.

Previous outbreaks and sporadic cases of Marburg in Africa have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, South Africa and Uganda, according to the organisation. Fatality rates in confirmed cases have ranged from 24% to 88% in previous outbreaks in other countries – depending on the virus strain and case management – according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Authorities in the West African nation announced yesterday that the Marburg virus disease (MVG) had been confirmed in a southern region.

A total of 98 people are now under quarantine as suspected contact cases, Ghanaian health officials said. It is only the second outbreak of Marburg in west ...

Start your Independent Premium subscription today. This is good because without immediate and decisive action, Marburg can easily get out of hand,” said Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa. By clicking ‘Register’ you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice.

The highly infectious disease is similar to Ebola, of which there was an outbreak in Western Africa between 2013 and 2016, which killed more than 11,000 people.

Marburg is generally considered to be a zoonotic virus, which means it is animal-borne. The initial symptoms of Marburg virus are the following: A more well-known virus in the Filovirus family is the Ebola virus–to which Marburg virus disease is almost clinically indistinguishable.

Ghana Health Service is working to reduce risks of virus spreading, including isolation of all identified contacts.

The first case was a 26-year-old male who checked into a hospital on June 26 and died on June 27. This is good because without immediate and decisive action, Marburg can easily get out of hand,” said Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa. Ghana Health Service says it is working to reduce the risks of the virus spreading, including the isolation of all identified contacts.

Fruit bats are the natural reservoir of Marburg virus. The Washington Post via Getty Images. Key Facts. Marburg is a highly infectious viral hemorrhagic fever ...

Health officials in Ghana have advised people to avoid caves and mines occupied by bats to minimize the risk of spreading the virus and to thoroughly cook meat before consumption. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that diagnosis of Marburg virus disease “can be difficult” as many signs and symptoms are similar to other infectious diseases like malaria or typhoid fever or other hemorrhagic fevers like Lassa or Ebola. It is the country’s first outbreak and only the second time the disease has been detected in West Africa. Nearly 100 people have been placed under quarantine after being identified as potential contacts.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says the disease has an average 50% fatality rate among humans and causes severe viral haemorrhagic fever. It is transmitted ...

Drugs and immune therapies to treat Marburg are being developed but there is not yet a vaccine, though early rehydration and treatment of symptoms can improve the chances of survival. It is only the second outbreak of Marburg in West Africa. The first case in the region was detected last year in Guinea and no further cases were identified. Two cases of the deadly and highly contagious Marburg virus have been confirmed in Ghana.

Ghana announced the country's first outbreak of Marburg virus disease after a World Health Organization laboratory confirmed earlier test results.

Marburg virus killed two men in Ghana in June, touching off the West African nation's first confirmed outbreak of the highly virulent disease.

It’s a member of the Filoviridae family of viruses which can cause severe hemorrhagic fever in people, killing up to 90% of those infected. Since then, many more viruses known to cause similar diseases in humans have been discovered around the world, with globalization, international travel, and climate change aiding their spread. From the same family as the Ebola virus, Marburg caused occasional outbreaks and sporadic cases mostly in Central and Southern Africa until Guinea, in West Africa, confirmed a single, lethal case in August 2021.

The virus is transmitted through fruit bats and direct contact with bodily fluids and infected people, surfaces, and materials. Illness begins abruptly, and ...

Log in through your institution Log in The two men, who were not related, had symptoms typical of Marburg virus, including diarrhoea, …

As cases are reported in Ghana, here's a look at the disease, its symptoms and ways of preventing the illness.

In women who might have been infected while pregnant, the virus may persist in the placenta and fetus. The WHO has also recommended precautionary measures in pig farms to avoid them from becoming infected through contact with fruit bats. The virus is also known to persist in some people who have recovered, and it can be found in the testicles and inside of the eye. According to the CDC, the Marburg virus disease is a severe hemorrhagic fever that is caused by the Marburg virus. Health authorities in Ghana have officially confirmed two cases of the highly infectious Marburg virus in the country, after two people after two people who later died, tested positive for the virus on July 10. In Africa, previous outbreaks have been reported in Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, South Africa and Uganda. Other outbreaks have also been reported in Europe and the United States.