Two suspected cases of Marburg virus disease reported in Ghana
Ghana has reported its first suspected case of Marburg virus disease (MVD), after initial samples were taken from two patients who died after showing positive symptoms for the dengue virus.
Key points:
- WHO says it is working with Ghanaian authorities to prepare for a possible outbreak
- The Ghana Health Service says no new cases have been reported since samples were taken two weeks ago
- There are 34 people quarantined
The samples have been sent to the Pasteur Institute in Senegal, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Collaborative Center, for processing before being officially confirmed as cases.
The patients, who were both from the southern Ashanti region but were not related, were showing symptoms including diarrhea, fever, nausea and vomiting.
They were taken to a district hospital in the Ashanti area, but later died.
“No new cases have been reported since the two samples were taken two weeks ago,” the Ghana Health Service said in a statement.
The service said 34 people who had contact with the cases were in quarantine.
WHO sent experts to support Ghana’s health authorities.
“Health authorities are on the ground to investigate the situation and prepare for a possible outbreak response,” said WHO representative in Ghana, Francis Kasolo.
“We are working with countries to improve detection, trace contacts, prepare to control the spread of the virus.”
If cases are confirmed, this will be the second outbreak of MVD in West Africa.
One case was confirmed in Guinea last year.
It was the only case recorded in the outbreak, which the WHO declared after five weeks.
What is the Marburg virus?
It’s a viral hemorrhagic fever in the same family as Ebola.
It is highly contagious and was initially detected in 1967 after outbreaks in Marburg and Frankfurt in Germany and Belgrade in Serbia.
The WHO said the outbreak was linked to laboratory work using African green monkeys, imported from Uganda.
However, a type of fruit bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus, is considered the natural host of the virus.
“Initially, MVD infection in humans occurred as a result of prolonged contact with mines or caves inhabited by colonies of Rousettus bats,” said the WHO fact sheet.
“The Marburg virus was transmitted to humans from fruit bats and spread between humans through human-to-human transmission.”
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms may include:
- fever
- headache
- bad taste
- diarrhea
- stomach ache
- nauseous
- vomit
- lethargy
- muscle aches and pains
- rash does not itch
- bloody stool
- vomiting blood
- bleeding from the nose, gums, and vagina
- Spontaneous bleeding at the venipuncture site
- testicular inflammation
- confusion, irritability and aggression
The average facility rate for the virus is about 50 percent.
WHO data from past outbreaks show case fatality rates vary between 24 and 88 percent, which takes into account different case strains and treatments.
Most of Marburg’s deaths occur between eight and nine days after the onset of symptoms, according to the WHO, usually after patients suffer “severe blood loss” and go into shock.
How is it spread?
Human-to-human transmission occurs through direct contact – through broken skin or mucous membranes – with the blood, secretions, or other body fluids of a person infected with the virus.
It is also spread through contact with surfaces contaminated with this liquid.
The WHO says it can be spread through contaminated clothing and bedding used by MVD patients and funeral services that involve direct contact with the body of a deceased patient.
How is it treated?
The WHO says there is “no proven treatment available” for MVD, without an approved vaccine or antiviral treatment.
But the patient’s chances of survival can be increased by symptom-specific treatment and rehydration through oral or intravenous fluids.
The WHO said treatments involving blood products, immune therapy and drug therapy were being evaluated.
ABC with cable
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