The World Health Organization confirmed an outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus in Equatorial Guinea this week.
According to reports, the viral fever is confirmed to have killed at least one person in the country and is linked to another eight deaths. In addition to the nine deaths, there are another 16 suspected cases in the country, with patients exhibiting symptoms that include fever, fatigue, and blood-stained vomit and diarrhea.
The virus’ presence in the country’s eastern Kie Ntem Province marks the first outbreak of the disease in Equatorial Guinea. It comes approximately six months after an outbreak of cases was reported in Ghana in July 2022.
Marburg virus is rare among people but it is highly infectious once it finds a human host, and the disease can be fatal, with an average fatality rate of around 50%, according to the WHO. During a 2005 outbreak of the virus in Angola, the death rate among Marburg patients was as high as 88%, the agency said.
Common symptoms of the Marburg virus include hemorrhagic fever, fatigue, blood-stained vomit, and diarrhea.
Illness from the disease often begins abruptly, according to the WHO, starting with a high fever, a bad headache, and malaise. Muscle aches and cramps can accompany the onset, as well as jaundice, nausea, and pain in the abdomen.
The CDC said a non-itchy rash can also appear around the fifth day of the disease, striking the patient’s chest, back, or stomach.
Patients can occur “ghost-like” around day three, with deep-set eyes, expressionless faces, and extreme lethargy, according to the WHO.
In fatal cases, death often occurs between eight and nine days after the onset, usually preceded by blood loss and shock, the agency said.
The virus is highly contagious and bodies can remain contagious even after death.
