The Ministry of Health of Guinea announced a confirmed case of Marburg virus disease (MVD) in Guéckédou Prefecture, Nzérékoré Region, southwestern Guinea, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The village where the patient resided is near both Sierra Leone and Liberian borders. It is the first known case of Marburg virus disease in Guinea and in West Africa.
Marburg is a highly virulent disease that causes hemorrhagic fever, with a fatality ratio of up to 88%. It is in the same family as the virus that causes Ebola, according to the WHO.
The patient, a male, had onset of symptoms on July 25. On August 1, he visited a small health facility near his village of residence with symptoms of fever, headache, fatigue, abdominal pain, and gingival hemorrhage. A rapid diagnostic test for malaria was performed, which was negative. He received supportive care with rehydration, parenteral antibiotics and treatment to manage symptoms.
He died August 2.
