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Two people in Ghana have died from the Marburg virus, and 98 have been quarantined, raising fears of the start of a massive outbreak. But what are we talking about? Answers with Jean-Claude Manuguerra, virologist from the Institut Pasteur
It is a cousin virus of the dangerous Ebola which is being talked about these days in West Africa. In Ghana specifically, where two people infected with the Marburg virus have died, and 98 are now in quarantine, as suspected contact cases (relatives, doctors and morgue workers). While the cases are the first detected in Ghana, many African countries have reportedly had a few cases in the past: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
An animal cause and a lethality of up to 88%
The disease, a virus from the Filoviridae family, is highly contagious and deadly, with up to 88% mortality rate, according to the WHO. It causes fever, severe muscle aches, diarrhea, and hemorrhagic vomiting and in many cases, death from extreme blood loss.
“Like Ebola, the origin of this disease in humans, its reservoir, is to be found on the animal side, in bats in particular, in the forests and villages of these African countries” says Jean-Claude Manuguerra, virologist and head of the Biological Emergency Response Unit (CIBU) at the Institut Pasteur. “Then, human-to-human transmission remains possible, either during care provided to the patient, or during funeral rites, by contact“. These are, in fact, fairly limited epidemics which do not spread, but which nevertheless remain violent.
Should we fear a spread?
Although frightening, this Marburg virus has little chance of being transmitted from city to city and reaching Europe for example. “The risk of export is never zero, but it is extremely limited, in the case of the Marburg virus” reassures the scientist. “Not only does he know of a zoonotic starting point, either related to a bat that is found in Africa. But in addition, it is a virus that is not contagious before the appearance of symptoms, and which makes you very sick as soon as symptoms and bleeding begin. There is therefore very little chance that an infected and sick person will move, and that the virus will establish itself in a developed country like France”.