Two Cases of Marburg Virus Confirmed in West Africa
Science/Medical/Technology
Monday 18th, July 2022
Two cases of the highly contagious Marburg virus have been confirmed in Ghana. Two men (deceased) aged 26 and 51 had test return positive the countries health service reported.
The authorities have said that they are isolating close contacts of the two men and so far no further individuals have shown any symptoms of the disease.
The Marburg virus is transmitted by fruit bats and spreads between humans via bodily fluids and with contact to contaminated materials such as bedding and clothes.
These confirmed cases are only the second 'outbreak' of the Marburg virus in West Africa, the first outbreak in the region was detected last year in Guinea and no further cases were identified.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that the Marburg virus have an average 50% fatality rate among humans, the virus causes severe viral haemorrhagic fever.
The authorities have said that they are isolating close contacts of the two men and so far no further individuals have shown any symptoms of the disease.
The Marburg virus is transmitted by fruit bats and spreads between humans via bodily fluids and with contact to contaminated materials such as bedding and clothes.
These confirmed cases are only the second 'outbreak' of the Marburg virus in West Africa, the first outbreak in the region was detected last year in Guinea and no further cases were identified.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that the Marburg virus have an average 50% fatality rate among humans, the virus causes severe viral haemorrhagic fever.
