Ghana Reports Possible Cases of Marburg Virus

Ghana has reported two possible cases of the Ebola-like Marburg virus disease.

The World Health Organization, WHO says preliminary analysis of samples taken from two patients from Ghana’s southern Ashanti region both of whom died turned up positive.

However, it would be forwarded for full confirmation to the Pasteur Institute in Dakar, Senegal, which works with the UN health agency.

WHO said in a statement that “the two patients had been taken to a local hospital with symptoms including diarrhea, fever, nausea, and vomiting.

“Preparations for a possible outbreak response are being set up swiftly as further investigations are underway, these include the deployment of experts to support health authorities in Ghana,” They said.

The organization said if confirmed as Marburg, the cases would mark only the second time that the disease has been detected in West Africa after Guinea confirmed a single case detected in August.

Previous Marburg outbreaks and individual cases have appeared in Angola, Congo, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda.

AF/CO