Equatorial Guinea has confirmed an outbreak of the Marburg virus, which is similar to Ebola.
This is the first time Marburg has spread in the country.
So far, nine people have died as a result of the virus.
Additional deaths are being investigated, and others suspected of being infected have been quarantined.
Equatorial Guinea confirms country's first Marburg virus disease outbreak -WHO https://t.co/JG1CkCYcWn pic.twitter.com/iuZhH7Pufc
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 13, 2023
According to Newsmax,
The small Central African country quarantined more than 200 people and restricted movement last week in its Kie-Ntem province after detecting an unknown hemorrhagic fever. Neighboring Cameroon also restricted movement along its border over concerns about contagion.
In addition to the nine deaths, Equatorial Guinea has reported 16 suspected cases of Marburg virus with symptoms including fever, fatigue and blood-stained vomit and diarrhea, the WHO said.
The deaths have been preliminarily linked to a funeral ceremony in the Kie-Ntem province’s Nsok Nsomo district, Equatorial Guinea Health Minister Mitoha Ondo’o Ayekaba said on Friday.
Nine people have died in Equatorial Guinea from an "outbreak" of Marburg virus, the country's health minister and the WHO said. The hemorrhagic fever is nearly as deadly as Ebola.https://t.co/ygIY4WhjXS
— DW News (@dwnews) February 13, 2023
The Marburg virus is a member of the same virus family as Ebola.
The World Health Organization describes the Ebola-like virus:
Marburg virus disease is a highly virulent disease that causes haemorrhagic 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.
BREAKING: Equatorial Guinea declares outbreak of Ebola-like Marburg virus, at least 9 dead https://t.co/R7V6WIsYyn
— BNO News (@BNOFeed) February 13, 2023
There is no vaccine for the virus, but some treatments may improve survival chances.
BNO News shared more.
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.
“Advance teams have been deployed in the affected districts to trace contacts, isolate and provide medical care to people showing symptoms of the disease,” WHO said in a statement. “Efforts are also underway to rapidly mount emergency response, with WHO deploying health emergency experts.”
So, where did this virus originate?
The Marburg virus, like Ebola and other similar viruses, is derived from animals.
DW offers more about the virus:
The rare virus was first identified in 1967 after it caused simultaneous outbreaks of disease in laboratories in Marburg, Germany and Belgrade, Serbia. Seven people died who were exposed to the virus while conducting research on monkeys.
The natural carrier of the Marburg virus is the African fruit bat, which carries the virus but does not fall sick from it.
But the animals can pass the virus to primates in close proximity, including humans. Human-to-human transmission then occurs through contact with blood or other bodily fluids.
This story is still unfolding as the country attempts to halt the spread of the deadly virus.
