First West African Case Of Deadly Marburg Virus Found, Says WHO

Geneva: The World Health Organization (WHO) said that Guinea confirmed a case of Marburg disease on Monday. The Marburg disease was first recorded in West Africa and related to Ebola and, like COVID-19, passed from animal hosts to humans.

According to WHO, bats are the carrier of the virus and has a fatality rate of up to 88 per cent. The virus was found in samples taken from a patient who died on August 2 in southern Gueckedou prefecture.

“The potential for the Marburg virus to spread far and wide means we need to stop it in its tracks,” WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti was quoted as saying by news agency AFP.

The development comes after two months after WHO’s declaration of an end to Guinea’s second Ebola outbreak that began last year and claimed 12 lives.

The WHO confirmed that it was considered a “high” threat regional and national level in Geneva, but “low” globally.

“We are working with the health authorities to implement a swift response that builds on Guinea’s past experience and expertise in managing Ebola, which is transmitted in a similar way,” Moeti told the agency.

The Marburg case was confirmed by the Guinean government in a statement.

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