Ghana declared Marburg Virus free after outbreak

The Ghana Health Service, in collaboration with partners has declared that the country has been able to get rid of the deadly Marburg Virus Disease outbreak.

The country recorded its first ever case of the Marburg virus which is a highly infectious haemorrhagic fever two months ago. In all three persons tested positive of the virus which led to the death of two of them.

Addressing the media on Friday, the Director-General of Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Kumah-Aboagye explained that upon the detection and subsequent confirmation of the virus, the health authorities activated all the necessary response to contain the virus.

In all a total of 198 contacts were traced and monitored to complete the 21-day observation period which is also the incubation period of the virus. To be very certain, the observation period was also extended by another 21 days making 42 days.

Dr. Aboagye announced that the 198 contacts traced with included 28 health workers all tested negative after the observation period.

Following the WHO protocols of declaring the end of outbreaks, the Director-General on behalf of the Minister for Health announced that “I Dr, Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, on behalf of the Minister for Health, Hon. Kwaku Agyemang Manu, together with our Partners do hereby state that appropriate outbreak Response Actions to Marburg Virus Disease have been implemented during the past 42 days following the last negative PCR result for the sole surviving case in line with recommendations by the WHO and best practices.”

“Ghana has therefore successfully interrupted the first Marburg Virus Disease outbreak and I hereby declare the outbreak officially over,” he announced.

Giving his remarks, the Regional Director for the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Matshidiso Moeti noted that “any outbreak of Marburg is a major concern. Despite having no previous experience with the disease, Ghana’s response has been rapid and robust.”

He indicated that WHO is committed to working with Ghana’s health authorities to maintain surveillance, improve detection of the virus and better prepare for a potential resurgence.

Source: ABC News