Eight more cases of the hemorrhagic disease Marburg have been affirm by the World Health Organization ( WHO ) after theinitial outbreakwas harbinger on February 13 , bringing the confirmed total to nine with 20 more display case probable to be Marburg . The computer virus that causes Marburg Virus Disease ( MVD ) is touch on to the Ebola virus and carries a gamy fatality peril , with seven of the confirmed event and all of the likely cases lead to death .
The outbreak is thought to be contained within Equatorial Guinea , though the new event are around 150 kilometers ( 93 miles ) apart and close to the boundary line of Cameroon and Gabon , suggesting the computer virus is spreading far .
“ The confirmation of these new cases is a critical signal to scale up response effort to quickly stop the chemical chain of infection and avert a potential large - scale outbreak and exit of life , ” say Dr Matshidiso Moeti , WHO Regional Director for Africa , in astatement .
“ Marburg is highly virulent but can be efficaciously controlled and halted by promptly deploying a broad reach of outbreak reception measures . ”
MVD has anincubation periodof 2 to 21 days , with early symptom include severe fever , headache , muscle aches , and chills . Within days , this can progress to diarrhea , regurgitation , abdominal painful sensation , and a blizzard .
Severe symptoms include liver loser , multi - organ dysfunction , and massive hemorrhaging . line of descent can be see in vomit and fecal matter , and patient role can bleed from their vagina , olfactory organ , gums , and sites of intravenous access . According to the WHO , patient with fateful cases of MVD most often die around 8 or 9 mean solar day after the onrush of their symptom .
There are currently no vaccines or treatments for MVD , though there are vaccine in developing that have recently passed phase 1 trials . intervention of intravenous fluid and symptom direction does improve selection , but MVD still has a mortality pace of up to 88 percent .
The first case in the eruption has been dated to January 7 , with Equatorial Guinea ’s ministry apprise on February 7 , according to apresentationfrom an urgent meeting of the WHO .
Marburg virus iszoonotic , hosted by African fruit bats ( Rousettus aegyptiacus ) . stuffy inter-group communication with these bats increases the risk of transmission , as does meet with infect primate . It can also be spread through contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person .
The WHOrecommends“prompt , safe and dignified burial of the deceased ” , separate those macabre with the computer virus from levelheaded people , monitoring people who may have been in contact with an infected mortal for 21 daylight , and just hygienics as outbreak containment metre .
