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This handout image from the World Well being Organisation exhibits scientists taking blood and organ samples to search for Marburg virus antibodies in bats on 15 August, 2007.
PHOTO: AFP/WHO/CHRISTOPHER BLACK
- The Marburg virus outbreak has a fatality ratio of as much as 88%.
- It was as soon as detected in South Africa from an individual with a journey historical past to Zimbabwe.
- It’s transmitted to individuals from fruit bats and spreads amongst people by way of direct contact.
Lower than a month after the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) ended its 14th Ebola outbreak, Ghana on Sunday declared a Marburg virus outbreak.
Two males died after reporting to hospital.
Marburg is in the identical household because the virus that causes Ebola.
In keeping with media stories, the 2 instances, which led to the demise of the 2 males, had been detected within the nation.
What’s Marburg?
In keeping with the World Well being Organisation (WHO), it is a “extremely virulent illness that causes haemorrhagic fever, with a fatality ratio of as much as 88%”.
The typical fatality charge is round 50%.
The illness was found when two massive outbreaks occurred concurrently in Marburg and Frankfurt in Germany, in addition to in Belgrade, Serbia, in 1967.
Origins
In keeping with the WHO, the virus was initially recognised in Germany and Belgrade however was related to laboratory work utilizing African inexperienced monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) imported from Uganda.
That are the endemic nations?
There have been sporadic outbreaks in South Africa, Angola, the DRC, Uganda and Kenya. The South African case, in 1975, was detected in an individual with a historical past of getting travelled to Zimbabwe.
The Ghana outbreak
In an announcement, the WHO stated a 26-year-old man and one other aged 51 in Ghana confirmed signs that included diarrhoea, fever, nausea and vomiting.
The laboratory corroborated the outcomes from the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Analysis, which recommended their sickness was on account of Marburg.
Each males sought remedy on the identical hospital inside days of one another.
The WHO’s regional director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, stated the organisation was on the bottom to include what may develop into a significant outbreak.
“Well being authorities have responded swiftly, getting a head begin getting ready for a potential outbreak. That is good as a result of, with out instant and decisive motion, Marburg can simply get out of hand.
“[The] WHO is on the bottom supporting well being authorities and now that the outbreak is said, we’re marshalling extra sources for the response,” she added.
The WHO is contact tracing not less than 90 individuals, together with well being employees and residents.
Transmission of Marburg
It’s transmitted to individuals from fruit bats and spreads amongst people by way of direct contact with the bodily fluids of contaminated individuals, surfaces and supplies.
The WHO stated: “Sickness begins abruptly, with excessive fever, extreme headache and malaise. Many sufferers develop extreme haemorrhagic indicators inside seven days.”
In 2008, two unbiased instances had been reported in travellers who visited a cave inhabited by Rousettus bat colonies in Uganda.
Treatment
In keeping with the WHO, there have been no vaccines or antiviral remedies authorized to deal with the virus.
The one answer to cut back fatalities is supportive care – rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids – and remedy of particular signs. A spread of potential remedies, together with blood merchandise, immune therapies and drug therapies, in addition to candidate vaccines with part 1 knowledge are being evaluated.
The News24 Africa Desk is supported by the Hanns Seidel Basis. The tales produced by way of the Africa Desk and the opinions and statements which may be contained herein don’t mirror these of the Hanns Seidel Basis
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