An “emergency response” has now been activated across the country, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said, amid concerns hundreds more people may have been infected with the deadly Marburg virus, which has a mortality rate of 88 per cent.
So far, all known cases have been detected in the Kie-Ntem province, where authorities are now desperately working to stop the spread and treat infected before the virus leaks further across the continent.
“Marburg is highly infectious,” Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said.
“Thanks to the rapid and decisive action by the Equatorial Guinean authorities in confirming the disease, emergency response can get to full steam quickly so that we save lives and halt the virus as soon as possible.”
The outbreak marks the first time the virus, which is closely related to ebola, has been recorded in the African nation.
WHO has confirmed 16 people have thus far contracted Marburg, but that number is expected to grow.
The virus is a “highly virulent disease” that causes haemorrhagic fever, with symptoms appearing abruptly.
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High fever, severe headaches and extreme malaise are common in patients, with many developing “severe haemorrhagic symptoms” within seven days, WHO said.
Blood-stained vomit and diarrhoea is also common.
Answers to the most commonly Googled questions about COVID-19
The virus is transmitted to humans via fruit bats and spreads among people through direct contact, bodily fluids of infected people, on surfaces and through materials.
There are no vaccines to treat the virus.
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