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Ghana has declared the end of an outbreak of the Marburg virus, a highly contagious disease similar to Ebola that was confirmed in July, the president’s office said on Monday.
The Marburg outbreak in Ghana was the second in West Africa. The first cases of the virus were detected in Guinea last year, but no further cases have been confirmed.
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The president’s office tweeted on Monday, “The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has officially declared Ghana free of the Marburg disease outbreak that was confirmed almost two months ago.
Ghana has declared an end to the Marburg virus outbreak that has claimed two lives in the country. Photo: Members of the Ga Traditions Council honor Queen Elizabeth II after her death in Accra, Ghana, on September 16.
(Ernest Ankoma/Getty Images)
The government of Ghana confirmed the first outbreak of the disease on 17 July.
A total of 3 cases were confirmed, 2 of which died. The third was asymptomatic and recovered.
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Since 1967, there have been 12 major Marburg outbreaks, mainly in southern and eastern Africa. According to the World Health Organization, mortality rates have varied from 24% to 88% in past outbreaks, depending on the virus strain and case management.
