Two dead as Ghana confirms its first outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus

[Rogue Valley]

Two dead as Ghana confirms its first outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus | CNN

Ghana has confirmed its first two cases of the highly infectious Marburg virus disease, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Sunday in a statement.

www.cnn.com

7.18.22
Ghana has confirmed its first two cases of the highly infectious Marburg virus disease, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Sunday in a statement. The announcement comes after two unrelated patients from the southern Ashanti region of Ghana, both of whom later died, tested positive for the virus. The patients had shown symptoms including diarrhea, fever, nausea, and vomiting, WHO said, adding that more than 90 contacts are being monitored. Marburg is a highly infectious viral hemorrhagic fever in the same family as the better known Ebola virus disease and has a fatality ratio of up to 88%, according to WHO. "Illness begins abruptly, with high fever, severe headache, and malaise," it stated. The virus is transmitted to humans from fruit bats and can then be spread human-to-human through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people or surfaces and materials contaminated with these fluids, WHO explained.

The global health body said containment measures were being put in place and that more resources would be deployed in response to the outbreak in Ghana. WHO also warned that "without immediate and decisive action, Marburg can easily get out of hand." There are no approved vaccines or antiviral treatments for the Marburg virus. However, a patient's chances of survival can be improved with care including oral or intravenous rehydration and treatment of specific symptoms, WHO said. The Ghana Health Service has urged the Ghanaian public to avoid mines and caves occupied by fruit bats and to thoroughly cook all meat products before consumption, to help reduce the risk of spreading the virus. Fruit bats are natural hosts of Marburg virus, the health service said.

The straw-colored fruit bats are found almost everywhere in Ghana. In the capital city of Accra (ah/KRA) one can see them hanging upside down from fruit trees in the daytime during the dry season. The bats migrate during the rainy season. Accra has a fruit-bat population of ~500,000. Around 128,000 are captured and consumed in Accra every year. Classified as "bushmeat" they must be thoroughly cooked. You can purchase dead and dressed fruit-bats in many of Accra's busy streetmarkets. Sellers need to be licensed.

 

[BirdinHand]

Around 128,000 are captured and consumed in Accra every year. Classified as "bushmeat" they must be thoroughly cooked. You can purchase dead and dressed fruit-bats in many of Accra's busy streetmarkets. Sellers need to be licensed.

Don't eat bats that are known to host a deadly virus.

Pretty simple answer.

 

[Rogue Valley]

Don't eat bats that are known to host a deadly virus.

Pretty simple answer.

A high enough cooking temperature kills any resident viruii.

Pretty simple rule.

 

[BirdinHand]

A high enough cooking temperature kills any resident viruii.

Pretty simple rule.

Apparently not for the people that are sick and spreading a virus

 

[Rogue Valley]

Apparently not for the people that are sick and spreading a virus

Who is spreading the virus? Two people are dead. You have evidence that they consumed fruit bats?

And I was speaking of Accra, a city of 4.2 million. What goes on in the rural areas is a different matter.

 

[Roadvirus]

♪ COVID, Monkeypox and Marburg...OH MY!
COVID, Monkeypox and Marburg...OH MY! ♪