Ghana reports first case of highly infectious Marburg virus: Know symptoms here

First case of Marburg virus was reported in Ghana, following which World Health Organization has declared Ghana's first outbreak of the Ebola-like virus disease. WHO stated that the virus, infectious hemorrhagic fever in the same family as Ebola, is spread by fruit bats and transmitted to people through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected people and surfaces. According to WHO, some of the early symptoms include a high fever, a strong headache, and a severe malaise. A common aspect is aches and pains in the muscles. On the third day, severe watery diarrhoea, cramps and pain in the abdomen, nausea, and vomiting are all likely.

For up to a week, diarrhoea can last. Patients at this stage have been described as having drawn features that are "ghost-like," deep-set eyes, expressionless faces, and severe lethargy. Bleeding from the nose, gums, and vagina frequently accompany fresh blood in vomitus and faeces. Patients have experienced persistently high fevers during the acute stage of the illness.

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A preliminary analysis of samples from two patients from Ghana's southern Ashanti region " both of whom died and were unrelated" turned up positive, but were forwarded for full confirmation to the Institute Pasteur in Dakar, Senegal. That UN health agency lab corroborated the results from the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research in Ghana, WHO said in a statement Sunday. The first case was a 26-year-old male who checked into a hospital on June 26 and died on June 27.

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The second was a 51-year-old male who went to the hospital on June 28 and died the same day, WHO said, adding that both men sought treatment at the same hospital. "Health authorities have responded swiftly, getting a head start preparing for a possible outbreak," said WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr. Matshidiso Moeti. "This is good because without immediate and decisive action, Marburg can easily get out of hand. WHO is on the ground supporting health authorities and now that the outbreak is declared, we are marshalling more resources for the response."

More than 90 contacts, including health workers and community members, have been identified and are being monitored, WHO said. Marburg is potentially very harmful and deadly: Case fatality rates in past outbreaks have ranged from 24 per cent to 88 per cent.

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This outbreak marks only the second time that the disease has been detected in West Africa "after Guinea confirmed a single case detected in August, according to WHO. The outbreak in Guinea was declared over five weeks later. Previous Marburg outbreaks and individual cases have appeared in Angola, Congo, Kenya, South Africa and Uganda," WHO said.

(With inputs from PTI)