Dr. John Amuasi, a public health specialist at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), has warned Ghanaians not to become alarmed due to the Marburg virus epidemic.
Although the virus has a high mortality rate, he claims that it is difficult to spread, therefore the likelihood of a widespread epidemic is very low.
In addition, he pointed out that the Ashanti Region's health professionals' quick action in the wake of the incident involving two sick people and their adherence to the required safety standards played a vital role in averting a widespread epidemic.
Dr. Amuasi emphasised there is no need for concern during his appearance on JoyNews' PM Express, adding that the general people should just follow any safety precautions or protocols that are in place. "Right now, from where we sit, I would say there is no reason for fear, if you ask me quite honestly. For two reasons, I argue there's no need to be alarmed. If you look at the history of the illness and the locations of the most recent outbreaks in Guinea, which included the same town where Ebola first appeared, you'll see that there was just one instance of the Marburg virus there. It was the year 2021.
"Before that, there had been cases in Uganda; in fact, Uganda has had the greatest outbreaks, and there had been a small number of cases with 50 percent or 100 percent fatality, but if you look at the 100 percent mortality, it's rare," It was such epidemics that only affected one, two, or three people at most. Therefore, it is very lethal yet difficult to obtain, he stated.
In the Ashanti Region, two positive cases were recorded on July 8.
A 26-year-old man who entered a hospital on June 26 and passed away on June 27 was the first case. The second case involved a male patient, 51, who entered the hospital on June 28 and passed away the same day.
Before passing away at the hospital, the two patients had gone to the same hospital with symptoms including diarrhoea, fever, nausea, and vomiting.
Regular hand washing with soap and water has been recommended by health professionals as a smart strategy to prevent illness.
blogpay
