Two people found dead as Ghana confirms its first case of Marburg Virus

Fear of COVID 19 is still not over and here we have another deadly virus coming from Ghana. The Marburg virus sickness is very contagious. It has now been verified in two instances in Ghana. According to a statement released by the World Health Organization, it can be an alarming situation. 

Two unrelated patients from Ghana’s southern Ashanti area who later died both tested positive for the virus, prompting the announcement. According to WHO, the patients reported diarrhea, fever, nausea, and vomiting as symptoms. More than 90 contacts are being kept under observation. According to WHO, Marburg is a highly contagious viral hemorrhagic fever that is related to the more well-known Ebola virus illness and has a death rate of up to 88 percent. It said, “Illness starts suddenly, with high temperature, a terrible headache, and malaise.”

Fruit bats: Spreading another deadly virus named Marburg

The virus is carried from fruit bats to humans.  It can be transferred from one person to another by coming into touch with their body fluids, contaminated surfaces, or items. The international health organization said that containment measures were being implemented and that additional resources will be used to address the epidemic in Ghana. WHO also cautioned that “Marburg can rapidly get out of hand without early and effective response.”

Quick action teams set up in Ghana

To assist lower the chance of the virus spreading, the Ghana Health Service has advised the people to stay away from fruit bat-inhabited mines and caves.  The government has also advised to properly prepare any meat items before eating. According to the health service, fruit bats are the Marburg virus’s natural hosts.

After Guinea discovered the virus last year, Ghana is only seeing its second epidemic in West Africa. The virus also claimed the life of a patient in the epidemic in Guinea. Health authorities in Guinea verified that there were no more instances. Previous outbreaks have been documented in South Africa, Kenya, Angola, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, among other countries in Africa. With more than 200 fatalities, the Angola epidemic in 2005 was the worst.

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