Equatorial Guinea confirms another eight cases of the Marburg virus

March 23 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The authorities of Equatorial Guinea have confirmed this Thursday another eight cases of the Marburg virus, similar to Ebola, which has left at least 20 dead since the declaration of an outbreak of this disease on February 13, as indicated by the World Organization of Health (WHO).

The agency has indicated that the new cases have been confirmed after laboratory analysis of additional tests and has added that to date nine confirmed cases and 20 probable cases have been detected. The new cases have been detected in Kie Ntem (east), Litoral (west) and Central South, located on the borders with Cameroon and Gabon and at a distance of 150 kilometers, suggesting widespread transmission of the virus.

“The confirmation of these new cases is a critical signal to increase response efforts to rapidly stop the chain of transmission and prevent a potential large-scale outbreak and loss of life,” said WHO Africa Director Matshidiso. Moeti, who has reviewed that “the Marburg virus is very virulent but can be controlled and stopped with rapid deployment of a wide range of outbreak response measures.”

The WHO has stressed that it is working with the Equatoguinean authorities to increase these response measures by reinforcing surveillance, testing, clinical care, infection prevention and control, and the launch of new epidemiological investigations, as well as raising awareness among the public to try to contain the spread of the disease.

For this reason, it has announced that over the next few days it will deploy more experts in epidemiology, logistics, health operations and infection prevention and control from the WHO, which is also supporting the health authorities of Cameroon and Gabon to increase their training and response to shoots.

For its part, the Ministry of Health of Equatorial Guinea has stated in its official account on the social network Twitter that training processes on the Marburg virus are being carried out in Bata and Evinayong,” aimed at social mobilizers and community leaders, to reinforce the compliance with prevention measures and the importance of community participation”.

Virus symptoms include headache, vomiting blood, and muscle aches. The disease is transmitted through contact with infected blood or other body fluids and tissues. There are no approved vaccines or antiviral treatments to treat the virus, which has an 88 percent fatality rate.

In Africa, previous outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda. Guinea confirmed a case in August 2021 in Gueckedou, while Ghana confirmed two cases in July 2022. Tanzania on Tuesday confirmed an outbreak that has so far left at least five dead.