Health authorities in Guinea have confirmed a case of Marburg virus disease in southern Gueckedou Prefecture. This is the first time Marburg, a highly contagious disease that causes hemorrhagic fever, has been identified in the country and West Africa, says the World Health Organization (WHO). In a press release, the WHO for Africa says that Marburg, which belongs to the same family as the Ebola virus, was discovered less than two months after Guinea declared the end of an Ebola outbreak. Samples from a patient who has since died and were tested by a field laboratory in Gueckedou and the national laboratory for hemorrhagic fever in Guinea were positive for the Marburg virus. Further analyzes by the Pasteur Institute in Senegal confirmed the result.
“We applaud the vigilance and rapid investigative action of Guinea health workers. The potential for the Marburg virus to spread widely means that we have to stop it, ”said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. « We are working with health authorities to implement a rapid response that builds on Guinea’s previous experience and expertise in dealing with Ebola that is being transmitted in a similar manner. »
A first team of 10 WHO experts, including epidemiologists and social anthropologists, are on-site to investigate the case and support national health authorities in rapidly stepping up emergency response, including risk assessment, disease monitoring, community mobilization, testing and clinical care, infection prevention as well as logistical support.
In Africa, previous outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported from Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, South Africa and Uganda.
West Africa:
First case of Marburg virus disease confirmed in Guinea
The health authorities in Guinea today confirmed a case of Marburg virus disease in the southern Gueckedou prefecture. This is the first time that Marburg, a highly contagious disease that… Read more »
Uganda:
How previous Ebola virus disease outbreaks helped Uganda respond to the Covid-19 outbreak
For many public health workers in Uganda, responding to disease outbreaks with epidemic potential is not new. This is because the country is in standby and response mode… Read more »
Sudan:
Sudan to fight fast-spreading viral fever in the country
The Sudanese Ministry of Health announced a plan to curb the spread of vector-borne diseases in seven states in eastern and western Sudan. In North Darfur, 12 cases of acute… Read more »
The government of Guinea has officially declared a new Ebola outbreak. Guinean health authority Sakoba Keita said the country is experiencing an Ebola « epidemic … Read more»
Kenya and Tanzania are among the counties identified as likely hotspots by the World Health Organization – for both Plague that devastated Madagascar as well as a recent Marburg … Read more »
The Kenya Medical Research Institute says samples taken from a Ugandan who died while visiting a Kenyan herbalist both tested negative for Ebola and Marburg viruses, but the … Read more »
AllAfrica publishes around 800 reports daily from more than 130 news agencies and over 500 other institutions and individuals who represent different positions on each topic We publish news and opinions ranging from strong government opponents to government publications and speakers The named editors of each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica is not authorized to edit or correct.
Articles and comments that identify allAfrica.com as the editor are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To process comments or complaints, please contact us.
AllAfrica is a voice from, from and about Africa – aggregating, producing and distributing 800 news and information daily from over 130 African news organizations and our own reporters to an African and global public. We operate from Cape Town, Dakar, Abuja, Johannesburg, Nairobi and Washington DC.
Keywords: