Earlier in the month, blood samples taken from two people in the southern Ashanti region showed they had 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. There is no cure or vaccine for Marburg, which is nearly as deadly as Ebola. Its symptoms include high fever as well as internal and external bleeding. Ninety-eight people identified as contact cases were in quarantine, the GHS statement said, noting that no other cases of Marburg have yet been identified in Ghana. The World Health Organization announced Ghana’s first outbreak. “Health authorities responded quickly, preparing for a possible outbreak,” said WHO regional director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti. “This is good because without immediate and decisive action, Marburg can easily get out of control. WHO is on the ground supporting health authorities and now that the outbreak has been announced, we are mobilizing more resources for the response.” The WHO said Guinea had confirmed a single case in an outbreak announced in September 2021. Previous outbreaks and sporadic cases of Marburg in Africa have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, South Africa and Uganda, according to the WHO. Marburg virus can be spread by infected animals, including bats. “The public is therefore advised to avoid caves inhabited by bat colonies and to thoroughly cook all meat products before consumption,” Ghana’s health authorities advised. Subscribe to First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every morning at 7am. BST In addition, anyone found to have been in contact with sick people, including medical staff, must self-isolate. The viral disease strikes sufferers suddenly, with high fever and severe headaches. Case fatality rates in confirmed cases ranged from 24% to 88% in previous outbreaks, depending on the strain of the virus and the management of the cases, according to the WHO.
