Marburg virus, a new highly infectious fever appears in Guinea.

World Health Organisation: “The potential for the Marburg virus to spread far and wide means we need to stop it in its tracks.

Conakry, Guinea – The Marburg virus, a highly virulent disease that causes haemorrhagic fever, with a fatality ratio of up to 88%, has appeared in the West African State of Guinea.  At the time of this report going to press, the highly infectious fever had already led to one   death, and the World Health Organisation is actively looking for everyone who met the deceased person.

The deadly disease did not originate from Africa.  Although it is in the same family as the virus that causes Ebola.  Marburg was named after two large outbreaks that occurred simultaneously in Marburg and Frankfurt in Germany, and in Belgrade, Serbia, in 1967, and led to the initial recognition of the disease.

The current outbreak was associated with laboratory work using African green monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) imported from Uganda. Subsequently, outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, South Africa (in person with recent travel history to Zimbabwe) and Uganda.  It was also on record that in 2008, two independent cases were reported in travellers who visited a cave inhabited by Rousettus bat colonies in Uganda.

The World Health Organisation’s regional director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, said, “The potential for the Marburg virus to spread far and wide means we need to stop it in its tracks.” Guinea’s new case was first identified last week, after the patient, who has since succumbed to the illness, first sought treatment at a local clinic before his condition rapidly deteriorated, according to the WHO.

Analysts at Guinea’s national haemorrhagic fever laboratory, and the Institute Pasteur in Senegal later confirmed the Marburg diagnosis.

Moeti has stated, “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.”

A WHO report states that, “Human infection with Marburg virus disease initially results from prolonged exposure to mines or caves inhabited by Rousettus bat colonies. Once an individual is infected with the virus, Marburg can spread through human-to-human transmission via direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials (e.g., bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids.”

WHO Director General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus tweeted, “Confirmation of Marburg virus in Guinea. Response requires a concerted effort to prevent transmission and protect communities. The world must not let this outbreak lead to another global pandemic and must take the warnings from the WHO very seriously.

The symptoms of Marburg include headache, vomiting blood, muscle pains and bleeding through various orifices.