Par Editorial Act
Published on 21 July 22 at 18:22
–
See my news
–
–
The health authorities of Ghana have officially confirmed that two people who died at the beginning of July 2022 were affected by the Marburg virusa highly contagious hemorrhagic fever, similar to Ebola.
The premier case: a 26-year-old home who was presented to the hospital on June 26 and died the next day. The second was 51 years ago on 28 juin and est decédéate le même jour, linked the Organization mondiale de la Santé (OMS).
These two patients, unrelated, had symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, nausea and vomiting.
“The Marburg virus can easily escape out of control”
“Health authorities reacted quickly, taking a long time to prepare for a possible epidemic. This is a good thing because without immediate and decisive action, Marburg can easily get out of control, ”commented Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, regional director of the OMS for Africa, in a statement.
Approximately 100 cas contacts in areas in quarantaine. The OMS is in touch with neighboring countries that are on alert and will send a team of experts “to ensure coordination and evaluate the risks and prevention measures of the infection.”
What do we know about this virus?
The medical history of the early Marburg virus in Europe, ats a laboratory. It was first discovered in 1967simultaneously in Germany, in the city of Marburg as well as in Frankfurt, and in Yugoslavia (today Serbia), in Belgrade.
Laboratory employees were infected after being in contact with monkeys from Uganda. 29 people fell ill in Germany, seven died. The patients were initially the laboratory personnel, then the infection spread to the members of the medical personnel who had treated the first patients, as well as to their families.
So these are the green monkeys of Africa (Cercopithecus aethiops) imported from Uganda that was the source of infection for humans in the first epidemic of Marburg.
Very present in Africa
These viruses, Marburg and Ebola, both belong to the family of Filoviridae (filovirus). Although caused by different viruses, these two diseases are clinical similarity. They have the ability to cause epidemics with high death rates.
This is the first time Ghana has confirmed the presence of the Marburg virus. The OMS had announced in September 2021 the end of the first episode of the Marburg virus in West Africa, 42 days after the identification of a single case in Guinea.
Flambées and sporadic cases have been reported elsewhere in Africa, notably in South Africa, Angola, Kenya, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. 128 people en sont mortes in République démocratique du Congo in 1998, 329 in Angola in 2005.
How is the Marburg virus transmitted?
Marburg virus disease is transmitted to humans by the mice frugivores, considered natural hosts of this virus, and spread to the human species for direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected personsor with surfaces and materials, according to WHO.
Thus, one can be infected through skin or mucous membranes infected with blood, secretions, organs or other body fluids of infected people, and with literature, clothing etc.
What symptoms and how to take care of?
The disease begins suddenly, with a strong fever, intense headaches and possible malaise. Lethality rates, important, have varied from 24% to 88% in previous epidemics, depending on the viral strain and case management, according to the WHO. Many patients develop severe bleeding signs within seven days.
Although there is no no vaccines or antiviral treatments approved to treat the virus, supportive care – rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids – and the treatment of specific symptoms, improve survival.
According to the OMS, a series of potential treatments, notably blood products, immune therapies and drug treatments, are currently being evaluated.
Was this article helpful to you? Note that you can follow Actu in the My Actu space. In one click, after registration, you will find all the news of your favorite cities and brands.
–
