Two cases of the deadly Marburg virus have been identified in Ghana, the first time the Ebola-like disease has been detected in the West African country.
Earlier in the month, blood samples taken from two people in the southern Ashanti region suggested 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 that Ghana has confirmed Marburg virus disease,” said the head of GHS, Patrick Kuma-Aboagye.
There is no treatment 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 have been quarantined, the GHS statement said, noting that no other cases of Marburg have yet been detected in Ghana.
The World Health Organization announced the first outbreak in Ghana. “Health authorities reacted quickly, starting to prepare for a possible outbreak,” said WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti.
“This is good because without immediate and decisive action, Marburg could easily spiral out of control.” WHO is on the ground supporting health authorities and now that the outbreak has been declared, we are directing more resources to respond.”
The WHO said Guinea had confirmed a single case in an outbreak declared over 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 cook all meat products thoroughly before consumption,” advises Ghana’s health authorities.
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In addition, anyone found to have been in contact with sufferers, including medical personnel, must self-isolate.
The viral disease strikes the sufferers suddenly, with high fever and severe headache. The case fatality rate for confirmed cases ranges from 24% to 88% in previous outbreaks, depending on the strain of the virus and case management, according to the WHO.
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