Status: 08/09/2021 10:00 p.m.
Less than two months after the end of an Ebola epidemic, authorities in Guinea are reporting infection with the Marburg virus. Similar to the Ebola virus, it is highly contagious and causes a high fever and internal bleeding.
In the West African state of Guinea, authorities have announced an outbreak of the life-threatening Marburg fever. As the World Health Organization announced, this is the first case ever in West Africa.
Less than two months after the end of an Ebola outbreak in the state, the highly contagious fever was discovered in a patient who has since died in southern Guinea in the Guéckedou prefecture.
No drugs or vaccinations allowed
Initial on-site investigations were confirmed by the Pasteur Institute in Senegal’s capital Dakar. The search for contact persons for the patient has been initiated. Containing the outbreak is made more difficult by the simultaneous fight against the coronavirus.
Similar to an Ebola infection, bat-borne Marburg fever usually leads to a high fever and internal bleeding. It is considered highly contagious and is transmitted to other people primarily through direct contact with body fluids. According to the WHO, no antiviral drugs or vaccinations against the Marburg virus are currently approved.