Tests done in Ghana were positive on July 10, but the results had to be verified by a laboratory in Senegal to be considered confirmed cases, according to the World Health Organization. “Further tests at the Pasteur Institute in Dakar, Senegal confirmed the results,” the Ghana Health Service (GHS) said in a statement. GHS is working to reduce the risk of the virus spreading, including isolating all identified contacts, none of whom have developed symptoms so far, it said. This is only the second outbreak of Marburg in West Africa. The first case of the virus in the region was detected last year in Guinea, with no other cases detected. “The (Ghanaian) health authorities responded quickly, preparing for a possible outbreak. This is good because without immediate and decisive action, Marburg can easily get out of control,” said Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. The two patients in the Ashanti region of southern Ghana both had symptoms including diarrhoea, fever, nausea and vomiting before they died in hospital, the WHO said. There have been twelve major outbreaks of Marburg since 1967, mostly in southern and eastern Africa. Case fatality rates range from 24% to 88% in previous outbreaks, depending on the strain of the virus and case management, according to the WHO. It is transmitted to humans by fruit bats and spreads between people through direct contact with the body fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials, the WHO says. (Reporting by Alessandra Prentice and Nellie Peyton; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel and Daniel Wallis)
title: “Ghana Confirms Its First Outbreak Of The Highly Contagious Marburg Virus " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-24” author: “Ronald Uvalle”
Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register DAKAR, July 17 (Reuters) – Ghana has officially confirmed two cases of the Marburg virus, a highly contagious disease similar to Ebola, its health ministry said on Sunday, after two people who later died tested positive for the virus earlier this month. Tests done in Ghana were positive on July 10, but the results had to be verified by a laboratory in Senegal to be considered confirmed cases, according to the World Health Organization. read more “Further tests at the Pasteur Institute in Dakar, Senegal confirmed the results,” the Ghana Health Service (GHS) said in a statement. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register GHS is working to reduce the risk of the virus spreading, including isolating all identified contacts, none of whom have developed symptoms so far, it said. This is only the second outbreak of Marburg in West Africa. The first case of the virus in the region was detected last year in Guinea, with no other cases detected. “The (Ghanaian) health authorities responded quickly, preparing for a possible outbreak. This is good because without immediate and decisive action, Marburg can easily get out of control,” said Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. The two patients in the Ashanti region of southern Ghana both had symptoms including diarrhoea, fever, nausea and vomiting before they died in hospital, the WHO said. There have been twelve major outbreaks of Marburg since 1967, mostly in southern and eastern Africa. Case fatality rates range from 24% to 88% in previous outbreaks, depending on the strain of the virus and case management, according to the WHO. It is transmitted to humans by fruit bats and spreads between people through direct contact with the body fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials, the WHO says. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Reporting by Alessandra Prentice and Nellie Peyton. Edited by Frank Jack Daniel and Daniel Wallis Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
