Ghana confirms Marburg virus cases following 2 fatalities

By Enoch Fiifi Forson

ACCRA, Ghana (AA) - Ghana on Monday confirmed two fatalities from the Ebola-like Marburg virus.

The deceased from the southern Ashanti region tested positive for the virus, but a Senegalese lab had to formally ratify the results before the cases could be considered confirmed, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.

According to the Ghana Health Service, 98 contacts are currently being monitored and quarantined, with no one showing any symptoms so far.

The disease causes severe viral hemorrhagic fever with a mortality rate of 50% for humans on average, according to WHO.

It is passed on to humans by fruit bats, and among humans through contact with bodily fluids and objects like bedding and clothing.

In West Africa, this is only the second Marburg outbreak. The first case in the area was confirmed in Guinea last year, and no additional cases were found.

There is no known cure or vaccine for Marburg.