The new provisional toll of the Marburg virus disease epidemic that has been raging for more than two months in Equatorial Guinea stands at 10 confirmed deaths, the Ministry of Health said on Monday.
“No cases reported in the last 48 hours, 14 cumulative positive cases”, et “10 hospitalized”dont “2 confirmed and 8 suspects”, wrote the ministry of this Central African state in a report dated Sunday, and posted Monday on Twitter. A new death is to be deplored, which brings the provisional death toll to 10 since the start of the epidemic of this virus, a cousin of Ebola and almost as deadly as it.
Marburg virus: WHO challenges Equatorial Guinea
A total of “604 people” contact cases are being followed up, compared to 825 on March 30, the ministry further specifies. Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) called on Equatorial Guinea to report cases of the Marburg virus to it due to fears of more widespread contamination than announced.
The UN agency was alarmed by a potential “large-scale epidemic”, which might affect neighboring Gabon and Cameroon in particular. Cases have been identified outside the province of Kié-Ntem where it had caused the first known deaths on January 7, until reaching Bata, the economic capital of the country.
The WHO had announced the deployment “the additional experts” and clarified that she was helping “also Gabon and Cameroon to strengthen the preparation and response to the epidemic”. Tanzania also announced two weeks ago the start of a Marburg outbreak, with five deaths.
This virus is transmitted to humans by fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, or with surfaces and materials. The fatality rate can reach 88%.
There are no approved vaccines or antiviral treatments to treat the virus. However, supportive care with oral or intravenous rehydration and treatment of specific symptoms increase the chances of survival.
