A deadly cousin of the Ebola computer virus has made its way to a new part of the world . This week , World Health Organization officials announced that the African nation of Ghana is now experiencing its first documented eruption of Marburg . At least two people have constrict the disease so far , both of whom have died .
Marburgis due to the Marburg virus , named after the German townsfolk where one of the first document irruption of the computer virus occurred in 1967 — an irruption that was sparked when lab workers were exposed to infected scamp import from Africa . Its usual host is the African fruit bat ( Rousettus aegyptiacus ) .
Both Marburg and Ebola belong to the same filovirus family , and they do very like symptoms in human race . These symptom initially let in flu - alike illness , followed by roseola , vomiting , chest abdominal botheration , and diarrhea . The infection can then rapidly become life - baleful , have interior bleeding , Hammond organ bankruptcy , and shock . Its deathrate rate can range from 23 % to over 90 % .
Ab electron microscopic image of the Marburg virus.Image: CDC/Frederick Murphy
Marburg has spilled over into humans withmuch less frequencythan Ebola . The largest documented irruption of Marburg go on in Angola between 2004 and 2005 and left over 200 dead . Ebola’slargest outbreak , chiefly in West Africa , nauseate around 30,000 people and killed 11,000 from 2014 to 2016 . Our slap-up familiarity with Ebola has allowed us to make grow effective antivirals and a vaccine against it , while no such specific options live for Marburg presently . This is the second time that Marburg has been document in West Africa in as many years , following a individual case describe from Guinea in September 2021 .
The two cases in Ghana were unrelated to one another , but both victim live in the southern region of Ashanti . They had also sought charge at the same hospital within days of each other in recent June . Samples from each patient were test by two labs , one of which is affiliated with the WHO , and both confirmed the mien of Marburg .
“ wellness authorities have respond fleetly , getting a head protrude preparing for a possible outbreak . This is good because without immediate and critical activity , Marburg can easily get out of hand , ” said Matshidiso Moeti , WHO Regional Director for Africa , in astatement .
More than 90 link of the patients have been identify by authority , admit health care workers , and are now being monitored .
“ WHO is on the background supporting health authorities and now that the eruption is declared , we are summon more resource for the reply , ” said Moeti .
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