Publisher Health

Two people in Ghana have died from the Marburg virus – and 98 been quarantined – raising fears of a mass outbreak of this highly infectious disease, which causes fever, muscle pains, diarrhoea, vomiting and, in many cases, death through extreme blood loss.

A cousin of the equally deadly Ebola virus, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Marburg virus, was first identified after 31 people were infected and seven died in simultaneous outbreaks in 1967 in:

The outbreak was traced to African green monkeys imported from Uganda.

But the virus has been linked to other animals since then.

And among humans, it is spread mostly by people who have spent long periods in caves and mines populated by bats.

This is Ghana’s first outbreak – but a number of African countries have had them, including:

A 2005 outbreak in Angola killed more than 300 people.

But in Europe, only one person has died in the past 40 years – and one in the US, after returning from expeditions to caves in Uganda.

Major outbreaks:

Source: WHO

The virus begins abruptly with:

This is often followed, three days later, by:

The WHO says: “The appearance of patients at this phase has been described as showing ‘ghost-like’ drawn features, deep-set eyes, expressionless faces and extreme lethargy.”

Many people go on to bleed from various parts of the body and die eight to nine days after first falling ill, because of extreme loss of blood and shock.

On average, the virus kills half those infected, the WHO says, but the most harmful strains have killed up to 88%.

The Egyptian rousette fruit bat often harbours the virus.

African green monkeys and pigs can also carry it.

Among humans, it spreads through bodily fluids and bedding contaminated with them.

And even if people recover, their blood or semen, for example, can infect others for many months afterwards.

There is no specific vaccine or treatments for the virus.

But a range of blood products, drug and immune therapies are being developed, the WHO says.

And doctors may be able to alleviate the symptoms by giving hospital patients plenty of fluids and replacing lost blood.

People in Africa should avoid eating or handling bushmeat, Gavi, an international organisation promoting vaccine access, says.

People should also avoid contact with pigs in areas with an outbreak, the WHO says.

Men who have had the virus should use condoms for a year after the onset of symptoms or until their semen twice tests negative.

And those burying people who have died from the virus should avoid touching the body.