The Marburg virus: urgent need to contain this close cousin of Ebola

In July 2022 Ghana confirmed its first two cases of the deadly Marburg virus, a highly infectious disease in the same family as the virus that causes Ebola. The Conversation Africa’s Wale Fatade and Usifo Omozokpea asked virologist Oyewale Tomori about its origin and how people can protect themselves against the disease.

After the initial outbreaks, other cases have been reported in different parts of the world. Most were in Africa – Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, South Africa, and more recently in Guinea and Ghana. Serological studies have also revealed evidence of past Marburg virus infection in Nigeria.

There can also be human-to-human transmission via direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials. This includes materials like bedding, and clothing contaminated with these fluids. Around the fifth day after the onset of symptoms, maculopapular rash, most prominent on the trunk , may appear. Nausea, vomiting, chest pain, a sore throat, abdominal pain, and diarrhea may appear. Symptoms become increasingly severe and can include jaundice, inflammation of the pancreas, severe weight loss, delirium, shock, liver failure, massive hemorrhaging, and multi-organ dysfunction.This tells us it’s quite a severe infection. The two people infected in Ghana both died.

Also, because of the similarities in the symptoms of many hemorrhagic fever diseases, especially during the early stages, there is a need for reliable laboratory confirmation of a case of Marburg virus infection. And once that is done – as with Ebola – the person must immediately be isolated and avoid contact with other people.

Health Health Latest News, Health Health Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

UK needs urgent vaccine drive to curb monkeypox, campaigners sayTerrence Higgins Trust says action must be stepped up to prevent disease becoming endemic Was the anxiety of Covid wearing off? Did we need something else to be scared of? Do nothing. Stay cool. This is next level fear porn. Ignore it. If only there was a way to stop it spreading....
Source: GuardianAus - 🏆 1. / 98 Read more »

Monkeypox virus: what are the symptoms, is there a vaccine and should Australia be worried?Infectious disease was first recorded in 1970 but a surge in cases has led to global health emergency It's a gay virus, so I don't care Now everyone, do what the politicians do and invest in vaccines now, they can mandate them and force them on the entire country which is illegal but they go under the cover of emergency to siphon government funds to boost our stocks so we all get rich like they did with covid Avoid unnatural sex acts and you've got nothing to worry about.
Source: GuardianAus - 🏆 1. / 98 Read more »

Monkeypox: US confirms first cases of virus in childrenCases of infant and toddler unrelated and likely from household transmission, say health authorities Who is letting Hunter Biden near the kids?
Source: GuardianAus - 🏆 1. / 98 Read more »