Marburg Virus Detected In Guinea

First time virus has been identified in West Africa

Health authorities in Guinea, West Africa have confirmed a case of Marburg virus disease.

The World Health Organisation notes this is the first time Marburg has been identified in West Africa.

WHO describes Marburg, as "a highly infectious disease that causes haemorrhagic fever".

It is transmitted to humans by fruit bats & spreads "through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials."

The organisation stated "Samples taken from a now-deceased patient and tested by a field laboratory in Gueckedou as well as Guinea’s national haemorrhagic fever laboratory turned out positive for the Marburg virus. Further analysis by the Institut Pasteur in Senegal confirmed the result.

The patient had sought treatment at a local clinic in Koundou area of Gueckedou, where a medical investigation team had been dispatched to probe his worsening symptoms."

A case of #Marburg virus disease has been confirmed in the southern Gueckedou prefecture of #Guinea🇬🇳. This is the first time Marburg, a highly infectious disease that causes haemorrhagic fever, has been identified in the country, & in West #Africa. https://t.co/S0DtGKBTw4

— WHO African Region (@WHOAFRO) August 9, 2021

Two months ago, Guinea declared an end to an Ebola outbreak that "erupted" there earlier this year, with the organisation noting Marburg "is in the same family as the virus that causes Ebola".

WHO continued "Gueckedou, where Marburg has been confirmed, is also the same region where cases of the 2021 Ebola outbreak in Guinea as well as the 2014–2016 West Africa outbreak were initially detected."

Outbreaks of the virus have been previously detected in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, South Africa, & Uganda.