The World Health Organization announces an outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus in Ghana.. Details

Weather of Arabia - The World Health Organization announced the first outbreak of a new virus on the African continent called " Marburg ", and it belongs to the family of the " Ebola " virus that is transmitted from animals.

The organization said in a statement issued on Sunday, that the announcement of the outbreak of the “Marburg” virus came 11 months after the first infection was recorded in Ghana, and this comes after it was confirmed that two unrelated patients, who later died, were infected in the Ashanti region, southern Ghana.

The organization indicated that the tests confirmed that two people were infected with the virus in Ghana , with more than 90 contacts monitored, including health workers and citizens, who are currently under surveillance.

"Health authorities have responded quickly to the new virus," said Dr Matchidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

The symptoms of the Marburg virus begin with high fever, headache, malaise and bleeding , so it is very easy to confuse it with the Ebola virus, and it has spread in a number of regions of Africa and has not yet had a vaccine.

Ebola and Marburg are related; They cause hemorrhagic fever, which is characterized by severe bleeding and organ failure, which leads to death in many cases.

The WHO says death rates ranged from 24% to 88% in previous outbreaks.

No vaccine or drug has been approved to treat Marburg so far, and patients receive supportive care and treatments for complications and dehydration that improve survival rates, according to the World Health Organization.

What is Marburg virus?

Marburg virus disease is very virulent and may turn into an epidemic and is associated with a high case fatality rate (ranging between 24 and 90%), and it is difficult in the early stage of the onset of “Marburg virus disease” to be clinically diagnosed to distinguish it from other tropical febrile illnesses, due to the similarities in its symptoms Clinical.

Differential diagnoses to be excluded include Ebola virus disease, as well as malaria, typhoid fever, leptospirosis, rickettsiosis and plague.

Marburg virus is transmitted by direct contact with blood, body fluids, body tissues of infected people, or wild animals such as monkeys and fruit bats.

There is currently no specific treatment or approved medication for the disease, however, supportive care including careful monitoring of vital signs, resuscitation of the patient with fluids, electrolysis, and acid-base monitoring along with management of co-infections and organ dysfunction, are critical components. Importance for care and improving patient outcomes and survival.

What are the symptoms of Magburg virus?

Symptoms of infection with this deadly virus include headache, vomiting blood and muscle pain, in addition to a high temperature of the person infected with the virus.

Some patients later bleed through body openings such as the eyes and ears.

Source: World Health Organization