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Tag: Marburg Virus

  • Rwanda: Funeral sizes slashed to manage spread of Marburg virus outbreak

    Rwanda: Funeral sizes slashed to manage spread of Marburg virus outbreak

    Rwanda has limited the size of funerals for Marburg virus victims to help control the spread of the highly infectious disease.

    The outbreak, Rwanda’s first, has claimed eight lives, as confirmed by the country’s health ministry on Friday. Marburg, part of the same virus family as Ebola, can be deadly, with a mortality rate of up to 88%.

    It is transmitted to humans from fruit bats and then spread through contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals.

    To prevent further transmission, the health ministry has issued new rules, stating that no more than 50 people can attend the funeral of someone who has died from the virus.

    What is the Marburg virus, and how dangerous is it?

    “Normal business and other activities” can continue in the East African country, said the advisory, published on Sunday evening.


    However, it also urged the public to avoid close contact with “symptomatic individuals.” The ministry listed symptoms such as fever, headaches, muscle aches, vomiting, and diarrhoea.


    The Marburg virus can lead to death due to severe blood loss. According to the health ministry’s new guidelines, hospital patients will not be allowed visitors for the next 14 days, with only one caregiver permitted per patient at any given time.

    In many developing nations, families often assist with essential tasks like washing and feeding, which nurses would typically handle elsewhere.

    On Saturday, when the death toll reached six, Rwanda’s health minister revealed that the majority of those who died were healthcare workers in an ICU.

    Dr. Nahid Bhadelia, from Boston University’s Centre on Emerging Infectious Diseases, told the BBC’s Newsday program that controlling the virus may be difficult as most cases have emerged in Kigali, a densely populated city, unlike previous outbreaks in remote rural areas where containment was easier.

    However, she added that there is hope as Rwanda has “a lot better infrastructure and history of public health coordination than many other countries.”.

    Rwanda announced it is ramping up efforts in contact tracing, surveillance,, and testing to control the spread of the Marburg virus. On Sunday, the health minister revealed that around 300 individuals who had been in contact with confirmed cases are being closely monitored.

    The government has called on citizens to maintain proper hygiene, including regular hand washing. This marks the first confirmed case of Marburg in Rwanda. Neighbouring Tanzania faced an outbreak in 2023, and Uganda saw three fatalities from the virus in 2017.

  • Marburg virus outbreak in Tanzania declared over

    Marburg virus outbreak in Tanzania declared over

    Tanzania has declared the Marburg virus outbreak to be over. In March, the presence of the haemorrhagic fever was initially established in the northwestern Kagera region.

    There were nine cases and six people died.

    The World Health Organisation said its joint action with Tanzania on an emergency response had enabled the authorities to limit the impacts of a highly infectious disease.

    The Marburg virus can have a fatality rate of up to 88%.

  • Tanzania: Confirms upsurge of Marburg Virus Disease

    Tanzania: Confirms upsurge of Marburg Virus Disease

    Tanzania has now acknowledged a Marburg virus disease outbreak.

    Following the deaths of at least five people in Kagera and Bukoba, preliminary investigations revealed that some of the samples tested positive for viral hemorrhagic fever.

    After a warning from district health officials, Tanzanian health authorities sent samples to the reference laboratory to ascertain the disease’s etiology.

    Five fatalities and seven probable cases have been reported thus far, along with symptoms like fever, exhaustion, and vomit and diarrhea stained with blood.

    Further investigations are ongoing.

    Advance teams have been deployed in the affected districts to trace contacts, isolate and provide medical care to people showing symptoms of the disease.

    Efforts are also underway to rapidly mount emergency response, with WHO deploying health emergency experts in epidemiology, case management, infection prevention, laboratory and risk communication to support the national response efforts and secure community collaboration in the outbreak control.

    Marburg virus disease is a highly virulent disease that causes hemorrhagic fever, with a fatality ratio of up to 88%. It is in the same family as the virus that causes Ebola virus disease.

    Illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly, with high fever, severe headache and severe malaise. Many patients develop severe haemorrhagic symptoms within seven days.

    The virus is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials.

    There are no vaccines or antiviral treatments approved to treat the virus.

    However, supportive care – rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids – and treatment of specific symptoms, improves survival.

    A range of potential treatments, including blood products, immune therapies and drug therapies, as well as candidate vaccines with phase 1 data are being evaluated.

  • Marburg virus: Equatorial Guinea confirms outbreak

    Marburg virus: Equatorial Guinea confirms outbreak

    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.

  • Ghana’s Marburg virus outbreak is over, says GHS

    The Ghana Health Service (GHS) says the country is free from the Marburg virus disease.

    This follows the successful discharge from the hospital, of the only survivor among those who contracted the virus.

    The announcement was made by the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye at a press briefing on Friday, September 16.

    “On this day, the 16th day of September 2022, I Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Director-General of the Ghana Health Service on behalf of the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman Manu together with our partners do hereby declare the initial outbreak of Marburg virus is over.”

    He also said the only survivor has been reunited with his family.

    “The only survivor of the three has since recovered from the disease following two negative tests carried out 48 hours apart on the 3rd and 6th of August 2022 respectively, by the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR). Ghana, therefore, has no case of MVD,” he added.

    Ghana recorded its first case of the disease on Monday, July 4.

    Three cases were subsequently reported, with the last being on 21st July 2022. Two of the three persons diagnosed with the disease unfortunately died.

    In all, 198 contacts were identified in four districts (Adansi North and South, Prestea Huni Valley, and Sawla-Tuna-Kalba) of which 118 of them have completed the 21 days of mandatory follow-up and have since been discharged.

    In line with World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, the outbreak will be declared over 42 days after the last negative test if there are no new cases.

  • Don’t impose travel restrictions over Marburg virus, observe COVID-19 safety protocols WHO

    The World Health Organization (WHO) has said, although some cases of the Marburg virus have been recorded in Ghana, there is no need to impose a travel restriction.

    Ghana and Guinea have recorded fresh cases of the deadly virus, putting other West African countries on red alert.

    The WHO Country Representative, Dr. Francis Kasola urged Ghanaians to observe COVID-19 safety protocols in order to prevent the spread of the Marburg virus.

    “We are not recommending any travel restrictions. There will be no cause for alarm as long as people follow the advice we have given, particularly the COVID-19 prevention protocols; washing of hands, among others.”

    Two cases have so far been recorded in the country.

    One case was a 26-year-old male who checked into a hospital on 26 June 2022 and died on 27 June. The second case was a 51-year-old male that reported to the hospital on 28 June and died on the same day.

    Marburg Virus Disease is a rare but severe haemorrhagic fever that affects both humans and non-human primates.

    It is caused by the Marburg virus. It is transmitted by infected persons or animals from direct contact with body fluids, blood, and other discharges from the affected person/animal. The incubation period for the disease is two (2) to twenty-one (21) days. Treatment is symptomatic. There is currently no vaccine available.

    Prospective cases may present with fever, bloody diarrhoea, bleeding from gums, bleeding into the skin, bleeding into eyes, and, bloody urine.

    Source: Citinews

  • Two die of deadly Marburg virus, 98 quarantined

    Two people have died after contracting the deadly Marburg virus in Ghana, the Ghana Health Service (GHS)has confirmed.

    Both cases were detected in the Ashanti region.

    The GHS statement said 98 people are now under quarantine as suspected contact cases. There is no known treatment for Marburg.

    The virus is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads between humans through the transmission of bodily fluids.

    It is a severe, often fatal illness with symptoms including headache, fever, muscle pains, vomiting blood, and bleeding.

     

     

     

     

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Ghana records first two cases of deadly Marburg Virus (MVD)

    The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has confirmed the presence of two Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) cases in the Ashanti Region.

    The highly infectious disease was suspected after two people in separate parts of the Ashanti Region met the case definition for an Acute Haemorrhagic Fever.

     Blood samples of the two suspected carriers of the virus were sent to the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, where initial tests pointed to the Marburg virus as the likely cause of the infections. 

    The blood samples have since been sent to the Institute Pasteur in Dakar, Senegal for further verification with the assistance of the World Health Organization (WHO).

    According to GHS’ statement, “No new cases have been reported since the two samples were taken two weeks ago.”

    In addition, the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service has identified and quarantined 34 people who came into contact with the two confirmed cases. 

    The Directorate, with the assistance of the Ghana Health Service, is conducting additional investigations into the cases through contact tracing. 

    GHS has advised the public to be on the lookout for any of the above symptoms, and anyone experiencing any of them should immediately seek medical attention.

    About Marburg Virus

    Marburg Virus Disease is a rare but severe haemorrhagic fever that affects both humans and non-human primates. It is caused by the Marburg virus. It is transmitted by infected persons or animals from direct contact with body fluids, blood and other discharges from the affected person/animal. The incubation period for the disease is two (2) to twenty-one (21) days. Treatment is symptomatic. There is currently no vaccine available.

    High fever, severe headache, and general malaise are the initial symptoms of a sudden onset of illness. Within 7 days, many patients show severe signs of haemorrhage. Prior outbreaks saw fatality rates anywhere from 24% to 88%, depending on the virus type and how the outbreaks were handled.

    Supportive care, including rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids and treatment of specific symptoms, improves survival despite the lack of vaccines or antiviral treatments approved for the virus. Blood products, immune therapies, and drug therapies are some of the potential treatments that are currently being researched and tested.

    Seven people died in the first ever Marburg outbreak in Germany in 1967.

    Extremely uncommon; the last major outbreak was in 2005 in Angola.

    According to the World Health Organization, 2005’s outbreak in Angola was the deadliest ever.

    Prospective cases may present will:

    • Fever
    • Bloody diarrhoea,
    • Bleeding from gums,
    • Bleeding into the skin
    • Bleeding into eyes and
    • Bloody urine

    Preventative measures include:

    • Don’t touch the body fluids (like urine, saliva, sweat, faeces, vomit, breast milk, and sperm) of infected persons
    • Maintain good hand hygiene by regularly washing your hands with soap and water and use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
    • Avoid touching anything that may have come into contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person.
    • Do not come into contact with dead bodies, including through funeral or burial rites, if you are in an area where Marburg has been confirmed or is suspected.
    • Fever (body temperature 38C or above), severe headache, fatigue (feeling very tired), muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain, or unexplained bleeding or bruising are all reasons to visit a doctor as soon as possible (the nearest health facility).

     

    Source: The Independent Ghana