World Health Organization has confirmed a case of the very contagious Marburg virus this week in Ghana in West Africa, sending jitters across a world dealing with the Coronavirus pandemic.
On Sunday, the WHO announced that two unrelated individuals died in Ghana’s southern Ashanti area after testing positive for Marburg, confirming test results from the country’s health department. The Ebola-like extremely contagious illness has no vaccination.
Reported in BBC, health officials said that they were attempting to quarantine close contacts and stop the virus’s spread while the WHO is mobilizing resources and deploying experts there.
According to WHO, death often happens eight to nine days after the disease first manifests and is preceded by multi-organ failure, substantial blood loss, and hemorrhaging.
The CDC has also mentioned that a non-itchy rash on the chest, back, or stomach may appear around day five. Marburg’s clinical diagnosis “may be challenging”, according to the report, as many of its symptoms are similar to those of other infectious illnesses like malaria or typhoid fever.
Ghana’s health officials are receiving help from the World Health Organization (WHO), which has applauded the nation for its quick action.
WHO Africa Head Dr. Matshidiso Moeti termed Ghana’s quick action as positive as Marburg may rapidly get out of hand if prompt and urgent action was not taken.
Director of Ghana’s health system Dr. Patrick Kumah Aboagye told BBC Focus on Africa radio that there was a large multidisciplinary team working to find the true cause of this.
WHO announced that it was sending its own specialists to Ghana and backing a “joint national investigating team”. In response to the few instances, it is also distributing personal protective equipment, stepping up disease surveillance, and locating contacts.
