Ghana quarantines 98 contacts for Marburg virus disease
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has confirmed the first two cases of Marburg virus disease, a highly contagious disease in the same family as the virus that causes Ebola.
This comes after a preliminary discovery of the Ashanti Region cases on July 7, 2022, by the country's Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research.
The results were sent to the Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD), Senegal, with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO) where it was confirmed to be the virus of Marburg.
“The two patients from the South Ashanti region – both deceased and unrelated – developed symptoms including diarrhea, fever, nausea and vomiting. They had been taken to a district hospital in the Ashanti region. Ashanti,” the WHO revealed in the preliminary report.
GHS official Patrick Kuma-Aboagye noted that 98 people identified as contact cases were under quarantine, adding that "this is the first time that Ghana has confirmed Marburg virus disease".
>Confirming this development, WHO Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, said: “Health authorities have responded quickly, taking a head start in preparing for a possible outbreak.” READ ALSO:
“Good because without immediate and decisive action, Marburg can easily spiral out of control. retaliate."
About the Marburg virusAccording to the WHO, "Marburg is transmitted to humans by fruit bats and is spread among humans through direct contact with bodily fluids from infected people, surfaces and materials."
The global health body said; “The illness begins abruptly, with high fever, severe headaches and malaise. Many patients develop severe bleeding signs within seven days. Case fatality rates have ranged from 24% to 88% in past outbreaks, depending on viral strain and case management.
“While there is no approved vaccine or antiviral treatment to treat the virus, supportive care – rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids – and treatment of specific symptoms improve survival.”
The WHO further explained that two large epidemics that occurred simultaneously in Marburg and Frankfurt in Germany, and in Belgrade, Serbia, in 1967, led to the initial recognition of the disease.
>The outbreak has been linked to laboratory work on African green monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) imported from Uganda.
Subsequently, outbreaks and sporadic cases were reported in Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, South Africa (in a recent traveler to Zimbabwe) and Uganda.
In 2008, two independent cases were reported in travelers who visited a cave inhabited by colonies of Rousettus bats in Uganda.
Support the integrity and credibility journalism of PREMIUM TIMES Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy and a transparent government. For free and continued access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask that you consider providing modest support to this noble endeavour. By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you help sustain relevant journalism and keep it free and accessible to everyone.Donate
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The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has confirmed the first two cases of Marburg virus disease, a highly contagious disease in the same family as the virus that causes Ebola.
This comes after a preliminary discovery of the Ashanti Region cases on July 7, 2022, by the country's Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research.
The results were sent to the Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD), Senegal, with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO) where it was confirmed to be the virus of Marburg.
“The two patients from the South Ashanti region – both deceased and unrelated – developed symptoms including diarrhea, fever, nausea and vomiting. They had been taken to a district hospital in the Ashanti region. Ashanti,” the WHO revealed in the preliminary report.
GHS official Patrick Kuma-Aboagye noted that 98 people identified as contact cases were under quarantine, adding that "this is the first time that Ghana has confirmed Marburg virus disease".
>Confirming this development, WHO Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, said: “Health authorities have responded quickly, taking a head start in preparing for a possible outbreak.” READ ALSO:
“Good because without immediate and decisive action, Marburg can easily spiral out of control. retaliate."
About the Marburg virusAccording to the WHO, "Marburg is transmitted to humans by fruit bats and is spread among humans through direct contact with bodily fluids from infected people, surfaces and materials."
The global health body said; “The illness begins abruptly, with high fever, severe headaches and malaise. Many patients develop severe bleeding signs within seven days. Case fatality rates have ranged from 24% to 88% in past outbreaks, depending on viral strain and case management.
“While there is no approved vaccine or antiviral treatment to treat the virus, supportive care – rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids – and treatment of specific symptoms improve survival.”
The WHO further explained that two large epidemics that occurred simultaneously in Marburg and Frankfurt in Germany, and in Belgrade, Serbia, in 1967, led to the initial recognition of the disease.
>The outbreak has been linked to laboratory work on African green monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) imported from Uganda.
Subsequently, outbreaks and sporadic cases were reported in Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, South Africa (in a recent traveler to Zimbabwe) and Uganda.
In 2008, two independent cases were reported in travelers who visited a cave inhabited by colonies of Rousettus bats in Uganda.
Support the integrity and credibility journalism of PREMIUM TIMES Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy and a transparent government. For free and continued access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask that you consider providing modest support to this noble endeavour. By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you help sustain relevant journalism and keep it free and accessible to everyone.Donate
[embedded content]TEXT ANNOUNCEMENT: Call Willie - +2348098788999
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