Health authorities in Guinea have confirmed one death from
Marburg virus, a highly infectious hemorrhagic fever similar to Ebola, and,
like COVID-19, passed from animal hosts to humans, the World Health
Organization said on Monday.
The virus, which is carried by bats and has a fatality rate
of up to 88 percent, was found in samples taken from a patient who died on
August 2 in southern Gueckedou prefecture, the WHO said.
“The potential for the Marburg virus to spread far and wide
means we need to stop it in its tracks,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional
Director for Africa.
The discovery comes just two months after the WHO declared
an end to Guinea’s second outbreak of Ebola, which started last year and
claimed 12 lives.
In Geneva, the WHO said it considered the threat “high” at
the national and regional level, 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 said.
The Guinean government confirmed the Marburg case in a
statement.
Marburg virus is usually associated with exposure to caves
or mines housing colonies of Rousettus bats. Once caught by a human, it is
spread through contact with bodily fluids of infected people, or with
contaminated surfaces and materials, according to the WHO.
Rapid response
“We applaud the alertness and the quick investigative action
by Guinea’s health workers,” Moeti said.
The case was detected in a village in a forested region
close to the borders of Sierra Leone and Liberia.
The man’s symptoms date back to July 25, the WHO said.
After being initially treated at a local clinic and tested
for malaria, the patient died “in the community”, the WHO said.
Post-mortem samples then tested negative for Ebola, but
positive for Marburg.
Ten WHO experts, including epidemiologists and socio-anthropologists,
are already in the field to support national health authorities.
The emergency response includes risk assessment, disease
surveillance, community mobilisation and screening, clinical care, infection
control and logistical support, WHO said.
Cross-border surveillance has also been stepped up so that
possible cases can be quickly detected, it said.
Three family members of the deceased and a healthcare worker
have been identified as high-risk close contacts and are being monitored, while
investigations are under way to identify the source of the infection and any
other possible contacts, the WHO said.
Previous outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in
South Africa, Angola, Kenya, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
But this is the first time the virus has been detected in
West Africa.
The disease begins suddenly, with a high fever, severe
headache and discomfort.
Fatality rates have ranged from 24 percent to 88 percent in
previous outbreaks, depending on the virus strain and case management, the WHO
says.
Although there are no approved vaccines or antiviral treatments, oral or intravenous rehydration and treatment of specific symptoms improve survival rates, it says.