According to the World Health Organization (WHO)The first case is of a 26-year-old male, who died in hospital a day after being diagnosed with the virus. The second case is of a 51-year-old male, who had gone to the hospital on June 28 and died on the same day. This is the second time the disease has been detected in West Africa.
What is Marburg virus disease
According to the WHO, Marburg virus disease (MVD), formerly known as Marburg hemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal hemorrhagic fever. It is a filovirus like Ebola. Rousetus fruit-bat is thought to be the host for Marburg virus. It was first detected in 1967 after simultaneous outbreaks in Marburg and Frankfurt, Belgrade and Serbia in Germany.
Two dead in Ghana
How deadly is Marburg virus disease
The World Health Organization says the disease has an average mortality rate of about 50%. However, it can be as low as 24% or 88% depending on the virus strain and case management.
What are the symptoms of Marburg virus disease?
Its symptoms can start anytime between 2 to 21 days. After this you may feel symptoms like high fever, muscle pain and severe headache. Around the third day, the patient may complain of abdominal pain, vomiting, severe watery diarrhea and convulsions. Between days 5 and 7 the patient may complain of nosebleeds, bleeding gums and vomiting and blood in the stool. Patients often die of bleeding between 8 and 9 days after symptom onset.
What is the treatment for Marburg virus disease?
The virus is similar to diseases such as malaria, typhoid fever and other viral hemorrhagic fevers and has similar symptoms. However, it can be correctly identified only after testing, so if you feel the above-mentioned symptoms, you should get tested immediately.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It cannot in any way be a substitute for any medicine or treatment. Always contact your doctor for more details.