Ghana confirms first cases of deadly Marburg virus
Ghana has confirmed its first two cases of the deadly Marburg virus, a
highly infectious disease in the same family as the virus that causes
Ebola.
It says both patients died recently in hospital in the southern Ashanti region.
Their samples came back positive earlier this month and have now been
verified by a laboratory in Senegal.
Health officials in the West African nation say 98 people are now
under quarantine as suspected contact cases.
These include relatives, medics and mortuary workers who came into
contact with the two patients.
This is the second time that Marburg has been identified in West
Africa. There was one confirmed case in Guinea last year, but that
outbreak was declared over in September, five weeks after the case was
discovered.
The World Health Organization (WHO), which is supporting Ghana’s
health authorities, has praised the country’s swift response.
“This is good because without immediate and decisive action, Marburg
can easily get out of hand,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO’s
Africa director.
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