The Ghana Health Service (GHS) on Friday (16 September) has officially declared Ghana free from the Marburg virus disease outbreak that was confirmed nearly two months ago.
It was the first time the highly infectious haemorrhagic fever was detected in the country.
Marburg is a highly virulent disease that causes haemorrhagic fever and has a fatality ratio of up to 88%, according to the World Health Organization.
The Marburg virus is in the same family as the one that causes Ebola disease.
The director general of the GHS, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye made the declaration on behalf of the Minister of Health after no new cases were reported over the past 42 days, or two incubation periods—the time between infection and the onset of symptoms.
Addressing the media in Accra, Dr Kuma-Aboagye said the development comes after the last negative PCR test for the sole surviving Marburg patient in Ghana.
“I, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, the director general of the Ghana Health Service, on behalf of the Minister of Health Kwaku Agyeman Manu, together with our partners, do hereby state that appropriate outbreak response to Marburg disease has been implemented during the 42 days following the last negative PCR result for the sole surviving patient with a recommendation by WHO,” he said.
He added, “Ghana has therefore successfully interrupted the first Marburg virus disease outbreak and hereby declare that the outbreak is over.”
In total, three confirmed cases, including two deaths were recorded in the outbreak declared on 7 July 2022 after laboratory confirmation of the virus that affected the Ashanti, Savannah and Western regions.
A total of 198 contacts were identified, monitored and completed their recommended initial 21-day observation period which was then extended for another 21 days out of an abundance of caution by the Ghanaian health authorities.
“Marburg is a frightening disease as it is highly infectious and lethal. There are no vaccines or antiviral treatments. Any outbreak of Marburg is a major concern,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.
“Despite having no previous experience with the disease, Ghana’s response has been rapid and robust. Lives have been saved and people’s health protected thanks to an effective disease detection system that helped to quickly identify the virus and enabled prompt response to curb the spread of infection.”
The Marburg outbreak in Ghana was the second of its kind in West Africa. Guinea reported a single case in an outbreak that was declared over in September 2021.
In Africa, previous outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, South Africa and Uganda.
Fred Dzakpata
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