After two persons who later died tested positive for the virus earlier this month, Ghana's health agency announced on Sunday that two cases of the extremely contagious Marburg virus, which is similar to Ebola, have been officially confirmed.
The World Health Organization stated that tests performed in Ghana returned positive results on July 10, but the cases had to be confirmed by a laboratory in Senegal.
The Marburg virus, a highly contagious illness comparable to Ebola, was found in two Ghanaians who later died, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported on Thursday.
The results of tests performed in Ghana were positive, but a laboratory in Senegal must confirm those findings before the cases can be termed verified, the WHO stated in a statement.
Before passing away at the hospital, the two patients in the southern Ashanti region both experienced symptoms like diarrhea, fever, nausea, and vomiting, according to the statement.
This would be only the second Marburg outbreak in West Africa if the cases are confirmed. In Guinea, the virus was discovered for the first time last year, but no other cases have been found.
The WHO stated that "quick action is being taken to put up preparations for a potential outbreak response."
Since 1967, there have been twelve significant Marburg outbreaks, primarily in southern and eastern Africa. Depending on the virus type and case care, mortality rates in previous outbreaks ranged from 24 to 88 percent, according to the WHO.
