Marburg Virus Outbreak Confirmed in Equatorial Guinea

The Marburg virus is a highly contagious illness comparable to Ebola that has made its first appearance in Equatorial Guinea, according to a statement released by the World Health Organization on Monday.

Nine deaths and 16 other probable cases were announced by the tiny central African nation of 1.6 million people after a sample sent to a Senegalese lab on February 7 returned positive.

After conferring with the World Health Organization and the United Nations, Kie-Ntem province and the nearby district of Mongomo have been placed under a health alert, according to the health minister, Mitoha Ondo’o Ayekaba, according to Agence France-Presse.

According to Ayekaba, the nine fatalities happened between January 7 and February 7.

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According to the WHO, the Marburg virus is passed directly from person to person through direct contact with human fluids and has a death rate of up to 88%. The illness belongs to the same virus family as Ebola. High fever and excruciating headaches are the primary symptoms, and many patients get hemorrhagic signs within seven days.

According to the WHO, personnel have been sent to Equatorial Guinea to “track contacts, isolate, and treat patients exhibiting symptoms of the disease.”

“Marburg is really contagious. The Equatorial Guinean government’s swift and decisive response in verifying the illness has allowed the emergency response to ramp up swiftly in order to save lives and stop the virus as soon as possible “proclaimed Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, regional director for Africa for the WHO.

According to the WHO, there are no available vaccinations or antiviral medications to treat the infection. Oral rehydration therapy and treating specific symptoms, it was added, can increase the likelihood of survival.

Agence France-Presse and The Associated Press contributed some information to this report.