EQUATORIAL GUINEA: The World Health Organization (WHO) reported on Monday that Equatorial Guinea had verified its first case of the Marburg virus, a deadly and extremely contagious illness related to Ebola, following the deaths of at least nine people.
Following the discovery of an unidentified haemorrhagic fever last week, the tiny Central African nation isolated more than 200 people and limited travel in its Kie-Ntem district. Due to fears about infection, neighboring Cameroon also put restrictions on border crossings.
The WHO regional director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, said in a statement on Monday that “thanks to the swift and decisive action by the Equatorial Guinean authorities in verifying the disease, emergency response can come to full steam quickly.”
According to WHO, Equatorial Guinea has reported 16 probable Marburg virus cases, with symptoms including fever, tiredness, bloody vomit and diarrhea, in addition to the nine fatalities.
WHO estimates that the mortality rate for Marburg virus sickness can reach 88 percent. There are no approved antiviral medications or vaccinations to treat it.
According to the health minister for Equatorial Guinea, Mitoha Ondo’o Ayekaba, the deaths have been tentatively linked to a funeral service in the Nsok-Nsomo area of the Kie-Ntem province.
Local health officials initially reported unidentified ailment-producing haemorrhagic fever cases on February 7. They then submitted samples to a Senegal laboratory, which confirmed one as positive for Marburg virus disease, according to the WHO.
World Health Organization claimed the teams are isolating and treating suspected individuals, undertaking contact tracing, and conducting isolation.
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