Bloomberg: Equatorial Guinea reported its first outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus after an unknown illness causing hemorrhagic fever killed at least nine people in the west of the central African country.
Out of eight samples tested from that episode, one was positive for the virus, the World Health Organization said in a statement on Monday. Besides the fatalities, there were 16 other patients with symptoms including fever, fatigue and blood-stained vomit and diarrhea, according to the statement. The tests were conducted at the Institut Pasteur laboratory in Dakar, Senegal.
Marburg virus is highly virulent and causes hemorrhagic fever, with a fatality rate as high as 88%. It belongs to the same family as the virus that causes Ebola.
Last week, authorities in Equatorial Guinea quarantined 200 people who were in contact with the suspected cases in the western Kie Ntem province, prompting the country’s neighbors to take countermeasures.
Cameroon restricted movements in areas across from the affected villages on Feb. 10. After several weeks of reporting "unexplained deaths,” health authorities have imposed restrictions "in order to detect and respond to any cases at an early stage,” Cameroonian Health Minister Malachie Manaouda said in a statement on Twitter.
