Highly infectious Ebola-like Marburg virus reported in Ghana; Symptoms of the disease

NIO Desk, July 18

Following the confirmation of earlier test results by a World Health Organization (WHO) laboratory, Ghana declared the first Marburg virus disease outbreak in the nation.

According to the WHO, Marburg is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials. Illness begins abruptly, with high fever, severe headache and malaise. Many patients develop severe haemorrhagic signs within seven days.

The World Health Organization stated that tests performed in Ghana came to be positive results on July 10, but the cases had to be confirmed by a laboratory in Senegal.

“#Ghana anounces country’s 1rst outbreak of Marburg virus disease, after a @WHO Collaborating Centre lab confirms earlier results. WHO is supporting Ghana by deploying experts, providing PPEs, bolstering disease surveillance, working w. communities”, WHO African Region Tweeted.

The WHO reports Marburg is a highly infectious viral haemorrhagic fever in the same family as the more well-known Ebola virus disease. It is only the second time the zoonotic disease has been detected in West Africa. Guinea confirmed a single case in an outbreak that was declared over on 16 September 2021, five weeks after the initial case was detected.

The WHO states that the incubation period (the amount of time between an infection and the onset of symptoms) ranges from 2 to 21 days.

The Marburg virus causes sudden onset illness characterised by a high fever, sharp headaches, and severe malaise.

A common feature is aches and pains in the muscles. On the third day, severe watery diarrhoea, cramping and pain in the abdomen, nausea, and vomiting are all possible, the WHO shared.

The appearance of patients at this phase has been described as showing “ghost-like” drawn features, deep-set eyes, expressionless faces, and extreme lethargy, the WHO reports. 

astrology Chandigarh News Choices Covid editor's pick Haryana News Headline Health News Highlight Himachal News India News Jammu&Kashmir latest jobs Mizoram North India News Panchkula News Panjab University Popular Punjab news Top Trendy What's New