With the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the rise of monkeypox cases across the globe, news of another outbreak is alarming.
On Sunday, Ghana officially confirmed two cases of the Marburg virus, a highly infectious disease similar to Ebola.
The announcement comes after the death of two patients from the southern Ashanti region, who tested positive for the virus.
Tests conducted in Ghana came back positive on July 10, reports Reuters.
However, the results had to be verified by a laboratory in Senegal for the cases to be confirmed, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Here is what you need to know about the rare virus.
What are the symptoms?
- Symptoms of Marburg virus are typically seen between 2 to 21 days after infection.
- It begins "abruptly," according to WHO.
- Patients can experience high fever, severe headache and severe malaise.
- Muscle aches and pains are also common.
- On the third day, patients may experience diarrhea, persisting for a week.
- They may also suffer from abdominal pain and cramping, nausea and vomiting.
- "The appearance of patients at this phase has been described as showing “ghost-like” drawn features, deep-set eyes, expressionless faces, and extreme lethargy,” WHO said.
How is it transmitted?
Marburg spreads through human-to-human transmission via direct contact.
It also can transmit through blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected people, reports WHO.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the virus can also spread with semen from a man who has recovered from Marburg.
How is it treated?
Currently, there are no vaccines or antiviral treatments approved for the virus.
However, WHO said rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids and treatment of specific symptoms, improves the survival of the patients.
