After two persons who subsequently died tested positive for the virus earlier this month, Ghana's health ministry said on Sunday that two instances of the Marburg virus, a highly contagious illness comparable to Ebola, have been formally verified.
The World Health Organization reported that tests performed in Ghana returned positive findings on July 10, but the cases hadn't been officially confirmed until the data had been checked by a laboratory in Senegal. reading more
In a statement, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) stated that further testing at the Institute Pasteur in Dakar, Senegal, "has validated the results."
GHS stated that it is taking precautions to lessen the danger of the virus spreading, including isolating all individuals who have been identified despite the fact that so far none of them have shown any symptoms.
This is just the second Marburg epidemic to occur in West Africa. In Guinea, the virus was discovered for the first time ever last year, but no more instances have been found.
"Health officials in (Ghana) have reacted quickly to begin planning for a potential outbreak. This is advantageous since Marburg may quickly spiral out of control in the absence of prompt and urgent response "said Matshidiso Moeti, WHO's regional director for Africa.
Before passing away at a hospital, the two patients in southern Ghana's Ashanti area both had symptoms like diarrhoea, fever, nausea, and vomiting, according to the WHO.
Since 1967, there have been twelve significant Marburg outbreaks, the majority of which have occurred in southern and eastern Africa. Depending on the epidemic, mortality rates in the past ranged from 24 to 88 percent. According to the WHO, the viral strain and case management.
According to the WHO, HPV is transferred among people via direct contact with the body fluids of infected individuals, contaminated surfaces, and infected objects. It is transmitted to humans by fruit bats.