Symptoms of Marburg, a highly contagious disease similar to Ebola, include diarrhea, fever, nausea and vomiting.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) says two people living in Ghana who later died had tested positive for Marburg virus, which causes a highly contagious disease similar to Ebola.
Tests in Ghana were positive, but the results must be confirmed in a laboratory in Senegal for the cases to be considered confirmed, the WHO said in a statement on Thursday.
The two patients, from the southern Ashanti region, had symptoms including diarrhea, fever, nausea and vomiting before they died in hospital, the statement said.
If the cases are confirmed, it would only be the second Marburg outbreak in West Africa. The first case of the virus was detected last year in Guinea, and no further cases have been detected.
“A massive response to the outbreak is being rapidly prepared while further investigations are ongoing,” the WHO said.
Since 1967, there have been a dozen major outbreaks of Marburg, primarily in southern and eastern Africa.
Marburg virus is usually associated with exposure to caves or mines with colonies of Rousettus bats. Once the virus has infected a person, it spreads through contact with infected people’s bodily fluids or contaminated surfaces and materials, according to the WHO.
The disease begins suddenly with high fever, severe headaches and discomfort.
According to the WHO, death rates have ranged from 24% to 88% in previous outbreaks, depending on the virus strain and case management.
Although there are no approved vaccines or antiviral drugs, oral or intravenous hydration and treatment of certain symptoms improve survival rates, he said.
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