WHO: Ghana reports 2 suspected cases of Marburg virus

GENEVA (AP) — World Health Organization says Ghana has reported two possible cases of Ebola-like Marburg virus disease, which if confirmed would mark first-ever such infections in West African country.

disease, a very infectious hemorrhagic fever in same family as Ebola, is spre to people by fruit bats and transmitted among people through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected people and surfaces, WHO said.

Marburg is potentially very harmful and dely: Case fatality rates in past outbreaks have ranged from 24% to 88%.

WHO says a preliminary analysis of samples taken from two patients from Ghana's sourn Ashanti region — both of whom died — turned up positive, but y were forwarded for full confirmation to Pasteur Institute in Dakar, Senegal, which works with U.N. health agency.

two patients h been taken to a local hospital with symptoms including diarrhea, fever, nausea and vomiting, WHO said in a statement.

“Preparations for a possible outbreak response are being set up swiftly as furr investigations are underway,” WHO said, ding that it is deploying experts to support health authorities in Ghana.

WHO said that if confirmed as Marburg, cases would mark only second time that disease has been detected in West Africa — after Guinea confirmed a single case detected in August. outbreak in Guinea was declared over five weeks later.

Previous Marburg outbreaks and individual cases have appeared in Angola, Congo, Kenya, South Africa and Uganda, WHO said.