As cases are reported in Ghana, here’s a look at the disease, its symptoms and how to prevent the disease. Ghanaian health authorities have officially confirmed two cases of the highly contagious Marburg virus in the country, after two people who later died tested positive for the virus on July 10. A total of 98 people identified as contact cases are currently in quarantine, the Ghana Health Service said, noting that no other Marburg cases have yet been identified in the country. In Africa, previous cases have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, South Africa and Uganda. Other cases have also been reported in Europe and the United States. Here’s what we know about the disease.
What is Marburg virus disease (MVD)?
According to the CDC, Marburg virus disease is a severe hemorrhagic fever caused by the Marburg virus. The Marburg virus, first identified in 1967 in Germany and the then Yugoslavia after research on imported African green monkeys, comes from the same family as Ebola. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), infection with the virus “initially results from prolonged exposure to mines or caves inhabited by colonies of Rousettus bats.” Once a person is infected, the disease can spread through person-to-person transmission, and this can happen through direct contact with the blood, organs or other body fluids of infected people and through surfaces and materials already contaminated with those fluids. .
What are the symptoms?
The illness caused by the virus begins abruptly, and according to the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), after an incubation period of two to 21 days, symptoms are characterized by:
Fever Chills Muscle aches and pains
The CDC said a rash more prominent on the chest, back and stomach may appear after symptoms begin.
Motion sickness Vomiting Chest pain Sore throat Abdominal pain And diarrhea may also occur.
The WHO says patients can develop severe bleeding within seven days, and fatal cases usually have bleeding, often from multiple sites. During the severe phase, patients experience prolonged high fevers. The patient may also present with confusion, irritability, and aggression. In fatal cases, death can occur between 8 and 9 days after onset, usually before severe blood loss and shock, the WHO said. Mortality rates range from 24 to 88 percent in previous outbreaks, depending on the strain of the virus and the management of the outbreaks. The virus is also known to persist in some people who have recovered and can be found in the testicles and inside the eye. In women who may have been infected during pregnancy, the virus may persist in the placenta and fetus.
How can it be treated?
According to the WHO, there is no proven treatment available for MVD. However, there is supportive care and treatment for specific symptoms. Supportive care includes rehydration with oral and intravenous fluids, and a number of potential treatments, including blood products, immunotherapies, and drug therapies, are currently being evaluated. Samples collected from patients are considered “extreme biohazard risk” and laboratory testing “must be conducted under conditions of maximum biocontainment.”
Is there a way to prevent infection?
According to GAVI, to prevent infection, extremely “strict infection control measures” are needed to prevent people from coming into contact with each other. Avoiding eating or handling bushmeat is also important to prevent spread from animals, and awareness among communities and health care workers is critical as this can lead to better precautions against spread. The WHO also advises male survivors to practice safe sex and hygiene for 12 months from the onset of symptoms or until semen tests negative for the virus. And for healthcare workers, the WHO recommends wearing gloves and appropriate personal protective equipment when caring for patients. WHO has also recommended preventive measures on pig farms to avoid infection through contact with fruit bats. The UN agency said they can be potential booster hosts during outbreaks.
