Ghana has reported its first suspected cases of Marburg virus (MVD) disease, after preliminary samples taken from two patients who died after showing symptoms were positive for viral hemorrhagic fever.
Key points:
- WHO says it is working closely with Ghanaian authorities to prepare for possible outbreak
- The Ghana Health Service says no new cases have been reported since the samples were taken two weeks ago
- There are 34 people in quarantine
The samples have been sent to the Institut Pasteur in Senegal, a collaborating center of the World Health Organization (WHO), for processing before they are officially confirmed as cases.
The patients, who were from the southern Ashanti region but had no relationship, showed symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, nausea and vomiting.
They were taken to a district hospital in the Ashanti region, but later died.
“No new cases have been reported since the two samples were taken two weeks ago,” the Ghana Health Service said in a statement.
The service said 34 people who had contact with the cases were in quarantine.
The WHO is sending experts to support the health authorities in Ghana.
“Health authorities are investigating the situation and are preparing for a possible response to the outbreak,” said Francis Kasolo, WHO representative in Ghana.
“We are working closely with the country to increase detection, track contacts and be prepared to control the spread of the virus.”
If the cases are confirmed, this would be only the second outbreak of MVD in West Africa.
Last year only one case was confirmed in Guinea.
It was the only case recorded in the outbreak, which the WHO declared overcome after five weeks.
The WHO is sending experts to Ghana to prepare for a possible outbreak. (ABC News: Chris Gillette)
What is the Marburg virus?
It is a viral hemorrhagic fever of the same family as Ebola.
It is highly infectious and was initially detected in 1967 after outbreaks in Marburg and Frankfurt in Germany and Belgrade in Serbia.
The WHO says these outbreaks were related to laboratory work with African green monkeys, which had been imported from Uganda.
But one type of fruit bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus, is considered the natural host of the virus.
“Initially, human MVD infection results from prolonged exposure to mines or caves inhabited by Rousettus bat colonies,” says a WHO fact sheet.
“The Marburg virus is transmitted to humans from fruit bats and spreads among humans through person-to-person transmission.”
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms may include:
- fever
- headache
- discomfort
- diarrhea
- A stomachache
- nausea
- vomiting
- lethargy
- pains and muscle aches
- itchy rash
- feces with blood
- vomit blood
- bleeding from the nose, gums and vagina
- spontaneous hemorrhage at venipuncture sites
- inflammation of the testicles
- confusion, irritability and aggression
The average rate of virus installations is 50 percent.
WHO data from previous outbreaks show mortality rates ranging from 24 to 88%, which take into account cases of different strains and treatments.
Most Marburg deaths occur between eight and nine days after the onset of symptoms, according to the WHO, usually after the patient suffers “severe blood loss” and goes into shock.
How does it spread?
Human-to-human transmission occurs through direct contact, through broken skin or mucous membranes, with blood, secretions, or other body fluids from people infected with the virus.
It also spreads by contact with surfaces contaminated with these fluids.
The WHO says it can spread through contaminated clothing and bedding worn by a patient with MVD and burial ceremonies involving direct contact with the body of a dead patient.
How is it treated?
The WHO says “there is no proven treatment available” for MVD, without approved vaccine or antiviral treatments.
But a patient’s chances of survival can be improved by treating specific symptoms and rehydrating using oral or intravenous fluids.
The WHO says treatments with blood products, immune therapies and pharmacological therapies are being evaluated.
ABC with cables