West African authorities have confirmed the first known case of the Marburg virus has been detected in the region.
The person reportedly died of hemorrhagic fever in Guinea on Monday, August 10th.
Health authorities reported that they were trying to track down everyone who may have been in contact with the patient who sought medical attention in Guéckedou.
The case was reported in the same area of Guinea where an Ebola epidemic began that killed 11,325 people between 2014 and 2016.
Earlier this year, a much smaller Ebola outbreak also struck the same region near Guinea’s borders with Sierra Leone and Liberia, killing 12.
If you have not heard of the Marburg Virus, it belongs to the Ebola family and begins when an infected animal, such as a monkey or a fruit bat, transmits the virus to a human.
Later, the virus spreads from person to person through contact with bodily fluids.
Symptoms of the disease include fever and muscle aches, and some patients bleed through cavities such as the eyes and ears.
There is currently no approved drug to treat the virus, but rehydration and other treatments can improve a patient’s chance of survival.
The World Health Organization’s Regional Director for Africa has stated that they are working hard with the African Health Authorities to launch a rapid response to prevent the further spread of the Marburg Virus throughout the world.
