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According to the Ghana Health Service(GHS), mining pits may serve as bats’ primary breeding sites, which are known to carry the Marburg virus.
Research has indicated that these trenches are home to bats, according to the GHS.
Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, the director general of the Ghana Health Service, stated: “We know that it originates from fruit bats and can spread to humans and monkeys.
Bats could be able to breed in mining shafts. Therefore, we must intensify our surveillance and raise public awareness.
“We will next conduct additional analyses to look at the country’s risk profile.”
Three individuals have already passed away from the virus, two in June and one in the Savanna Region in July. Following the fatalities, quarantines have been placed on forty people.
One of the people who died on Thursday, July 21, 2022, was a close cousin of one of the two people who died from the illness in June.
After the incubation period, the deceased displayed Marburg virus symptoms, according to the Ghana Health Service (GHS).
Sadly, one close contact exhibited signs after the maximum 21-day incubation period and passed away on July 21, according to a statement made at the time by Dr. Kuma-Aboagye.
“These are very close relatives, so, we have taken samples, and we are following up on them”.
“Their initial tests came out positive because of their close contact, and we have identified additional 40 contacts where the incident occurred, so, we are still monitoring.”
As a result, the GHS has invited the public to share information that will help it stop the infection.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com/Louis Gyamerah
