On Monday, the World Health Organisation informed that Guinea confirmed a case of Marburg disease, which was first recorded in West Africa of the lethal virus and relates to Ebola and Covid-19 as it is passed from animal hosts to humans.
The virus is carried by bats and its fatality rate is up to 88 percent, it was firstly recorded in samples taken from a patient who passed away in Southern Gueckedou prefecture on August 2, 2021, the WHO said.
The discovery of the virus came just two months after the WHO declared the end of Guinea’s second outbreak of Ebola. The first case of the virus was found in 2020 and claimed 12 lives.
The first case was reported in a forested region close to the borders of Sierra Leone and Liberia. The WHO said that the symptoms were examined on July 25, 2021.
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As per the WHO, after being initially treated at a local clinic and tested for malaria, the patient died “in the community”.
The WHO said, in Geneva, it considered the threat “high” at the national level and “low” at the regional level.
WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti said, “The potential for the Marburg virus to spread far and wide means we need to stop it in its tracks.”
Moeti continued, “We are working with the health authorities to implement a swift response that builds on Guinea's past experience and expertise in managing Ebola, which is transmitted similarly.”
The Marburg case in the statement was confirmed by the Guinean government.
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According to the WHO, the Marburg virus is associated with the exposure of Rousettus bats and if once it is caught by a human, it spreads through the bodily fluids of infected people or with the contaminated surfaces and materials.
Moeti applauded the alertness of the government and said, “We applaud the alertness and the quick investigative action by Guinea's health workers.”
Previous outbreaks and sporadic cases were reported in South Africa, Angola, Kenya, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and it is the first time the virus has been detected in West Africa.
The common symptoms of the disease begin suddenly and include a high fever, severe headache and discomfort. WHO said that there are no approved vaccines or antiviral treatments, oral or intravenous rehydration and treatment of specific symptoms improve survival rates.