Ghana is Marburg virus free — GHS

The Director-General of Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, has declared the end of the Marburg virus disease outbreak in Ghana after recording its first outbreak in July 2022.

He stated that the declaration came after GHS implemented appropriate outbreak Response Actions to Marburg Virus Disease in the 42 days following the last negative PCR result for the sole surviving case, following recommendations by the World Health Organization (WHO) and best practices.

Dr Kuma-Aboagye, speaking at a media briefing in Accra, said three cases were confirmed, the last of which occurred on July 21, 2022, adding that two of the confirmed cases died.

He said the only survivor of the three, has recovered from the disease following two negative tests carried out 48 hours apart on the 3rd and 6th of August 2022 by the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR).

He further said Ghana implemented additional measures, which include enhanced surveillance and active case search, testing of all suspected cases and enhanced risk communication and community engagements.

“I, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, the Director General of the Ghana Health Service, on behalf of the Minister for Health Mr Kwaku Agyemang Manu, together with our Partners do hereby state that appropriate outbreak Response Actions to Marburg Virus Disease have been implemented during the past 42 days following the last negative PCR result for the sole surviving case in line with recommendations by the WHO and best practices.

“Ghana has therefore successfully interrupted the first Marburg Virus Disease outbreak and I hereby declare the outbreak officially over,” he declared.