DAKAR (Reuters) – Two people in Ghana who died later tested positive for Marburg virus, a highly infectious disease similar to Ebola, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday.
The tests conducted in Ghana were positive, but these results must be confirmed by a laboratory in Senegal for the cases to be considered confirmed, the WHO said in a statement.
The two patients in the southern Ashanti region had symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, nausea and vomiting, before dying in hospital, according to the statement.
If the cases are confirmed, this would be only the second outbreak of Marburg in West Africa. The first case of the virus was detected last year in Guinea, without identifying any more.
“Preparations for a possible response to the outbreak are being prepared rapidly as more research is being conducted,” the WHO said.
There have been a dozen major outbreaks of Marburg since 1967, mainly in southern and eastern Africa. According to the WHO, mortality rates have ranged from 24% to 88% in past outbreaks, depending on the strain of the virus and case management.
(Report by Aaron Ross; Edited by Bill Berkrot)