The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye together with Ghana’s partners, has officially declared that the Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) is no more in the country.
“I 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 stated.
Dr. Kuma-Aboagye announced this on Friday on behalf of the Minister for Health Kwaku Agyeman-Manu at meet-the-press-series organised by the Ministry of Information.
It would be recalled that on 28th June 2022, two suspected viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) cases were notified to health authorities at the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate.
The first case presented to a health facility in Adansi North in Ashanti region with symptoms onset on 24 June after arriving from the Western region.
The patient sought medical care at a hospital on 26 June and died on 27 June.
The second case also sought care at the same hospital as the first case on 28 June but died the same day.
Blood samples were collected for both cases and sent to Noguchi Memorial Institute of Medicine Research (NMIMR) for testing.
On 1 July, both cases tested positive for Marburg virus by PCR.
Both samples were sent to other labs for further tests.
The second case was however not confirmed following further tests but other cases were later detected.
The first case was a 26-year old male resident in Adansi Kusa in the Adansi North District who presented to the health facility with a three-day history of illness such as vomiting, bloody diarrhoea, history of fever, chills, general malaise, painful urination, bleeding from nose and mouth; and reddish swollen eyes.
MVD outbreak response measures
The following public health response measures were implemented following the confirmation of the first case;
1. Issuance of MVD alert to all Health Facilities including Teaching Hospitals.
2. Activation of National, Regional and District Public Health Emergency structures.
3. Deployment of National, Regional and District Public Health Emergency Rapid Response Teams.
4. Risk Communication and Community Engagement Nationwide sensitisation of Clinicians.
Actions towards declaration of outbreak over
The WHO has recommended 42 days following the negative PCR test result as the time for declaration of outbreak of over in the absence of new cases supported by evidence of active surveillance for MVD.
Following the discharge of the single surviving case and the absence of any new case, the countdown for the declaration of the outbreak over was initiated on 6th August in line with WHO recommendations, Ghana implemented additional measures as part of actions to culminate in the final declaration of outbreak over.
Commendations
In a related development, WHO country representative to Ghana, Dr. Francis Chisaka Kasolo, in a solidarity message disclosed that, the Ministry of Health notified World Health Organization about the MVD outbreak on 6 July 2022 and an official declaration was made on 7 July 2022.
“I am happy to report that since that time, the response to the outbreak from the MOH and partners has been swift, consistent, and focused. Within six weeks after detection Ghana’s first Marburg Virus Disease outbreak has been contained”, he pointed out.
This, according to him, has been achieved through a coordinated response in all pillars of the response that is, enhanced surveillance, strengthened laboratory support, contact tracing infection prevention and control and case management and community mobilization.
“It should be noted that even though we are declaring this outbreak over, we still need to continue the enhanced surveillance, review the response to draw critical lessons, and work on building our capacity for any future emergencies”, Dr. Chikasa emphasised.
He gave assurance that the WHO will help Ghana fully understand the dynamics of the MVD outbreak.
“World Health Organization is committed to supporting the MOH/GHS strengthen preparedness and response to Public Health Emergencies through the provision of technical and financial support including the ecological study.
“WHO is confident that with our collaborative efforts, Ghana will be a safer country in relation to outbreaks.
“I would like on behalf of the World Health Organization (WHO), to congratulate the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service for the timely response and rapid containment of the Marburg Virus Disease outbreak”, he concluded.
On his part, the Country Director of the United States government’s Centre for Disease Control (US CDC), Dr. Tony Awul explained that, Ghana Health Service took the lead in contact tracing, laboratory testing, supply chain management and ecological studies to check and contain this outbreak.
“I would like to congratulate the government of Ghana, the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service for their exemplary leadership to swiftly contain the Marburg virus disease outbreak, which is declare early to late this year. In a quick action, incisive leadership and technical expertise prevented further spread of this extremely dangerous disease to the larger population and therefore protecting and saving countless lives”, he stated.
