The Marburg virus, a highly contagious illness belonging to the same virus family as Ebola, has been reported as having made its first appearance in Equatorial Guinea, according to the country’s authorities on Monday.
In the country’s western Kie Ntem province, the viral hemorrhagic fever is thought to have killed nine people.
One sample that was gathered and sent to the Institut Pasteur in Dakar, Senegal, underwent additional testing, and the results were positive.
According to the World Health Organization, 16 people are currently being held in isolation as suspected contact cases. A team of experts from the health organisation has been sent to the area to assist the medical personnel.
Last week, the country’s Health Minister, Mitoha Ondo’o Ayekaba, said preliminary investigations linked the deaths to people who attended a funeral ceremony.
Movement has been restricted around two villages, where most cases have been reported. Contact tracing is currently ongoing.
This is the first outbreak recorded in the country and the third in West Africa. Ghana confirmed one case last year and Guinea the previous year.
The virus is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads between humans through the transmission of bodily fluids.
Although there are no vaccines or treatments, those diagnosed are advised to drink plenty of water as doctors treat a patient’s specific symptoms.
Previous outbreaks and sporadic cases of Marburg in Africa have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda.