Marburg virus outbreak in Ghana: An impending crisis
Jack Wellington, Ayça Nur, Nicholas Aderinto, Olivier Uwishema, Hassan Chaito, Olutola Awosiku, Yusuf Jaafer Al Tarawneh, Jana Abdul Nasser Sharafeddine, Chinyere Vivian Patrick Onyeaka, Helen Onyeaka
Abstract
Since the initial identification of the Marburg virus in 1967, it has sporadically emerged in several countries throughout Africa, including Zimbabwe, Kenya, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda, and Zimbabwe. Due to the concurrent occurrence of other epidemics like the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), this outbreak could endanger the healthcare systems in these many African nations. Recently, two cases of the Marburg virus were detected in Ghana for the first time. However, there has been a noticeable lack of information concerning this recent outbreak of July 2022 in Ghana. Therefore, this article seeks to provide an overview of this outbreak in Ghana to better understand the most recent status and current efforts being made to mitigate the dissemination of the Marburg virus. We also suggest recommendations that may contribute to limiting the burden of this virus.