The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised to 11 the number of deaths in Equatorial Guinea from confirmed cases of the Marburg virus — which triggers a hemorrhagic fever similar to Ebola — two more than in the previous balance, but has warned that all 23 additional cases identified as »probable» have succumbed to the disease, to what could amount to a total of 34 deaths.
WHO has identified a total of 38 cases (15 confirmed and 23 probable), with particular incidence in the city of Bata, Littoral province, since the outbreak broke out on February 13.
The Marburg virus is transmitted to humans from bats in fruit trees and spreads from person to person through direct contact with biological fluids of those infected, as well as with surfaces and materials.
Symptoms of infection include headache, vomiting of blood, and muscle aches. The disease is transmitted by contact with infected blood or other body fluids and tissues. There are no vaccines or approved antiviral treatments to treat the virus, which has a mortality rate of 88 percent.
Maintenance therapy (oral or intravenous rehydration) and symptomatic treatment are used to increase the survival of those infected.
In Africa, previous outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kenya, South Africa and Uganda. Guinea confirmed a case in August 2021 in Gueckedou, while Ghana followed suit with two cases in July 2022. Tanzania confirmed on Tuesday an outbreak that has so far left at least five dead.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
