Between 2014 and 2016, Guinea suffered the world’s deadliest Ebola epidemic since 1976. Now that the country is once against facing a major health crisis, namely the Covid-19 pandemic, another Ebola-like virus has been detected on its territory.

Authorities in Guinea reported last August 9 the first case of Marburg virus infection in the country. The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed the news the same day.

The Marburg virus, which is similar to Ebola, killed a man in the Gueckedou district, the southern part of the country, the same locality where the past Ebola outbreak occurred between 2014 and 2016. Marburg’s mortality rate reached up to 88% in previous outbreaks.

“Illness begins abruptly, with high fever, severe headache, and malaise. Many patients develop severe hemorrhagic signs within seven days. Case fatality rates have varied from 24% to 88% in past outbreaks depending on virus strain and case management,” WHO said in its note.

Angola, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, and the Democratic Republic of Congo have recorded some infection cases in the past.

According to WHO, oral or intravenous rehydration and treatment of specific symptoms are recommended in the absence of approved vaccines. The disease is transmitted to humans by fruit bats and is spread in humans by direct contact with body fluids of infected persons, or with surfaces and materials.

“An initial team of 10 WHO experts, including epidemiologists and socio-anthropologists, is on the ground helping to investigate the case and supporting the national health authorities to swiftly step up emergency response, including risk assessment, disease surveillance, community mobilization, testing, clinical care, infection prevention as well as logistical support,” the statement says.

Officially, the Ebola epidemic killed 2,536 in 3,804 declared cases in the country between 2014 and 2016, the deadliest period since the outbreak was reported in Central Africa.

 Jean-Marc Gogbeu (intern)