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Ghana reports first two cases of ‘Marburg virus disease’

Source: PIXNIO

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has confirmed the country’s first two cases of Marburg virus disease (MVD).

The confirmation came after samples from suspected infected people sent to the Institute Pasteur in Dakar (IPD) tested positive for MVD, according to a statement issued by the GHS late Sunday.

The GHS first announced the suspected infections on July 7, after identifying two people in Ghana’s Ashanti Region who met the case definition of acute hemorrhagic fever.

The GHS reported that the samples from the individuals tested positive for MVD at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research.

The samples were sent to the IPD for further confirmation with the help of the World Health Organization (WHO).

“So far, 98 contacts have been identified, including those from the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District of the Savannah Region,” the GHS statement said. “They are undergoing quarantine and being monitored by the Ashanti and Savannah regional health directorates of the GHS.”

“No new cases of MVD have been identified,” the statement said.

The Marburg virus causes MVD, a rare but severe hemorrhagic fever that can be fatal.

According to the WHO, the disease has previously been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Africa, Uganda, and Kenya.

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Brendan Taylor

Brendan Taylor was a TV news producer for 5 and a half years. He is an experienced writer. Brendan covers Breaking News at Insider Paper.







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