The first case of Marburg virus in West Africa was confirmed in Guinea, a statement from World Health Organisation revealed. The virus can cause haemorrhagic fever and is capable of wide spreading, warned the officials. The confirmation comes just after two months the WHO declared an end to the country’s second outbreak of Ebola virus.
Marburg virus was first confirmed in 1967 and later on 12 outbreaks have been reported so far in south, east parts of Africa and Europe. Though virus presence was found in live bats, this is the first case confirmed in humans in West Africa. The infection was found in the southern Gueckedou area in Guinea, the statement said. The virus comes under the same family of Ebola virus, which causes another deadly disease.
12 people were died of Ebola during the second outbreak in Guinea, started in January 2021 and lasted till June this year.