Ghana confirms two suspected cases of Marburg virus
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Ghanaian health officials have confirmed that two suspected cases of Marburg virus have been recorded in the country.
Samples on these two cases though have been taken to the Institut Pasteur in Senegal for further tests.
The cases were found in Ghana’s Ashanti Region with the person who had the suspected virus already reported dead.
In a statement the Ghana health service said “The disease was suspected following the identification of two persons who met the case definition for an Acute Haemorrhagic Fever in two different locations in the Ashanti Region.”
“Blood samples were sent to the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research. Preliminary results suggest the infection is due to the Marburg virus,” the statement added.
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34 contacts linked to the initial two cases have been traced and are currently under quarantine according to health officials.
Ghanaian officials say no cases have been confirmed yet but if confirmed, these cases would be the first recorded in the country and the second in West Africa.
Marburg is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads between humans through bodily fluids.
No vaccine or treatments are there for victims and those diagnosed with the virus are usually urged to drink alot of water.
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There have been Marburg outbreak in Africa in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, South Africa and Uganda previously.
Source: Africafeeds.com
