Health authorities in Guinea have confirmed one death from Marburg virus, a highly infectious haemorrhagic fever similar to Ebola, the World Health Organization says. It marks the first time that the deadly disease has been identified in west Africa. There have been 12 major Marburg outbreaks since 1967, mostly in southern and eastern Africa. “The potential for the Marburg virus to spread far and wide means we need to stop it in its tracks,” Matshidiso Moeti, WHO’s regional director for Africa, said. Marburg outbreaks start when an infected animal, such as a monkey or a fruit bat, passes the virus to a human.

Source: The Nation August 09, 2021 18:56 UTC