NewsDesk @bactiman63
The Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak that was declared on February 13 in Equatorial Guinea, on the west coast of Central Africa, has been declared over today, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced.
No new cases were reported over the past 42 days after the last patient was discharged from treatment.
A total of 17 laboratory-confirmed cases and 12 deaths were recorded. All the 23 probable cases reported died.
Tanzania Marburg virus outbreak declared over
Five districts in four of Equatorial Guinea’s eight provinces were affected. Bata district in the western Litoral province was worst-hit, with 11 laboratory-confirmed cases reported.
This was the first MVD outbreak in Equatorial Guinea.
Marburg virus disease is highly virulent and causes hemorrhagic fever, with a fatality ratio of up to 88%. It is in the same family as the virus that causes Ebola virus disease. Illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly, with high fever, severe headache and severe malaise. Many patients develop severe hemorrhagic symptoms within seven days. The virus is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials.
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There are no vaccines or antiviral treatments approved to treat the virus. However, supportive care – rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids – and treatment of specific symptoms, improves survival.
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