Fifteen confirmed deaths following landslide in the Republic of Guinea.

Fifteen people have now been confirmed dead following a landslide which hit the Manéah area of the town of Coyah, in the Kindea Region of the Republic of Guinea, about 50 km to the east of the capital, Conakry, at about 7.00 pm local time on Wednesday 20 August 2025. A further ten people are being treated in hospitals for serious injuries, and the number of deaths is expected to rise.The incident happened following heavy rains associated with the West African rainy season. Landslides are a common problem after severe weather, as excess pore water pressure can overcome cohesion in soil and sediments, allowing them to flow like liquids. Approximately 90% of all landslides are caused by heavy rainfall.

Rescue operations in Manéah following a landslide on Wednesday 20 August 2025. Journal Horoya/AP.

West Africa has a distinct two season climatic cycle, with a cool dry season during the northern winter when prevalent winds blow from the Sahara to the northeast, and a warm rainy season during the northern summer when prevalent winds blow from the Atlantic Ocean to the southwest. These warm winds from the Atlantic are laden with moisture, which can be lost rapidly when the air encounters cooler conditions, such as when it is pushed up to higher altitudes by the mountains of the Fouta Djallon in Guinea.

Rainfall and prevalent winds during the West African dry and rainy seasons. Encyclopedia Britanica.

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Casearia septandra: A new species of tree from southern Guinea.

The genus Casearia comprises fruiting trees in the Willow Family, Salicaceae, found throughout the tropics. There are currently three described species known from West Africa, Casearia inaequalis from Sierra Leone and Côte d'Ivoire, Casearia prismatocarpa, which is found from Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia south to the Congo Basin, and Casearia gambiana, currently known only from The Gambia.

In a paper published in the journal Kew Bulletin on 13 April 2024, Frans Breteler, formerly of the Herbarium Vadense, and Abdoulaye Baldé of the Centre de Formation de Nzérékoré, describe a new species of Casearia from the mountains of southern Guinea. 

The new species is named Casearia septandra, although no explanation is given for this name. It is a tree-forming species reaching about 20 m in height with a trunk diameter at breast height of about 36 cm. Leaves are oval and reach about 3.5 cm in length, flowers are small and white, fruit are orange and up to 1 cm in diameter, spliting into three valves as they ripen.

Casearia septandra. (A) Leafy branchlet; (B) fruits; (C) dehisced fruit. Abdoulaye Baldé & Xander van der Burgt in Breteler & Baldé (2024).

Casearia septandra grows in montane rainforests at altitudes of greater than 900 m above sealevel, in the mountains of southern Guinea. A total of five specimens were located, growing at three separate locations. In addition, some material in a dried herbarium specimen collected in 1949 is considered to belong to the species, although the collection location details are unclear, making it uncertain if this material came from one of the known localities for the species. 

Distribution of Casearia septandra. Breteler & Baldé (2024).

Given the low number of living specimens and the limited geographical distribution of the species, Breteler and Baldé suggest that Casearia septandra be classified as  Endangered under the terms of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species, although they note that two of the locations at which Casearia septandra was found are threatened by potentialiron ore mining, and that if this goes ahead the species should be reclassified as Critically Endangered. 

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Outbreak of Diptheria in Guinea.

On 5 September 2023, the Ministry of Health of Guinea notified the World Health Organization of a Diphtheria outbreak in the country. From 4 July to 13 October 2023, a total of 538 cases of Diphtheria, were reported in the Kankan Region, in the east-central part of Guinea, according to a press release issued by the World Health Organization on 18 October 2023. Of the total cases reported, 520 are suspected and 18 confirmed with 58 deaths including 13 among confirmed cases (a case fatality rate among all cases of 11%). The 1-4 years age group accounted for the largest proportion of reported cases. Diphtheria is a highly contagious vaccine-preventable disease caused mainly by the Bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae which can be fatal in 5-10% of cases, with a higher mortality rate in young children. However, in settings with poor access to Diphtheria antitoxin, the case fatality rate can be as high as 40%. Diphtheria remains a significant health problem in countries with poor routine vaccination coverage. According to World Health Organization/UNICEF estimates of national immunization coverage, the immunization coverage with the Diphtheria Tetanus toxoid and pertussis containing vaccine was reported to be 47% for 2022 in Guinea and has remained below 50% since 2014. This is insufficient for achieving the coverage of 80–85% required to maintain community protection. The World Health Organization assesses the risk of Diphtheria to be high in Guinea, considering the chronically low vaccination coverage.

On 4 July 2023, two children aged 2 and 4 years, attended the otolaryngology department of the Siguiri Prefectural Hospital in the Kankan Region of Guinea, for similar symptoms (dyspnea, dysphasia, fever, cough). They were hospitalized for tonsillitis and respiratory infection and received antibiotic treatment before being referred to the Kankan Regional Hospital for additional care.

Since 4 July and as of 13 October 2023, 538 cases have been reported, including 18 confirmed cases. In total, 58 deaths including 13 among confirmed cases were registered, and 461 contacts are being followed up. Of the cases reported, 62% are female. The 1-4 years age group, with 445 cases, accounted for the largest proportion of reported cases, 82%, followed by the 5-9 years age group, with 5% and 5% for the 10 years and above age group. Children under the age of 12 months make up 7% of reported cases. None of the 538 cases were vaccinated.

Kankan Region is divided into five prefectures and only the Kérouané Prefecture has not reported any cases to date. The prefecture of Siguiri is the most affected, with 510 cases (95%). Of the 363 patients admitted to the treatment centres in Siguiri, 37 (10%) have died. Other prefectures reporting cases are Mandiana (13 cases), Kankan (13 cases) and Kouroussa (two cases).  Of the 15 patients admitted in the treatment centre in Kankan, 12 (80%) have died.

The treatment centres in the country do not have the capacity in terms of Human resources and material for adequate case management. Suspected and confirmed cases were treated with Amoxicillin and Azithromycin as first line therapy. Antibiotic prophylaxis (Amoxicillin, Azithromycin) was administered to the direct contacts.

Distribution of Diphtheria cases in Kankan region, Guinea, as of 13 October 2023. World Health Organization.

Diphtheria is a highly contagious vaccine-preventable disease caused mainly by Corynebacterium diphtheria but also by Corynebacterium ulcerans. It spreads between people mainly by direct contact or through the air via respiratory droplets. The disease can affect all age groups; however, unimmunized children are most at risk.

Symptoms often come on gradually, beginning with a sore throat and fever. In severe cases, the Bacteria produce a poison (toxin) that causes a thick grey or white patch at the back of throat. This can block the airways, making it hard to breathe or swallow, and also creates a barking cough. The neck may swell in part due to enlarged lymph nodes.

Treatment involves administering Diphtheria antitoxin as well as antibiotics. Vaccination against Diphtheria has been effective in reducing the mortality and morbidity from Diphtheria dramatically. Diphtheria is fatal in 5-10% of cases, with a higher mortality rate in young children. However, in settings with poor access to Diphtheria antitoxin, the case fatality rate can be as high as 40%.

Guinea has strengthened epidemiological surveillance for early detection and case management. Daily coordination and monitoring meetings on the response activities are underway at the Regional level, led by the regional health inspector and with the support of the World Health Organization, Médecins Sans Frontières-Belgium and other partners in the region. Notification of all suspected cases of Diphtheria, investigation initiation, and monitoring of contacts as soon as possible has been enhanced. Contact tracing, identification of an isolation zone at the Balato Health Post in the prefecture of Kouroussa and briefing of the healthcare workers on the case definition and prevention measures are ongoing. Case management activities such as antibiotic therapy (Amoxicillin, Azithromycin), treatment of suspected cases, antibiotic prophylaxis (Amoxicillin, Azithromycin) for the direct contacts and free case management at treatment centres with support from Médecins Sans Frontières are being provided. Risk communication and community engagement efforts, such as raising awareness of cases in the community and identifying and briefing a communicator to raise awareness among parents of patients is ongoing.

Suspected Diphtheria cases by epidemiological week in Guinea, as of 13 October 2023. World Health Organization.

The Diphtheria antitoxin supply is currently very constrained and insufficient to respond to current demands, as there is only a limited number of manufacturers and large outbreaks are being reported in different regions of the world.

The risk of Diphtheria in Guinea is considered high due to the low vaccination coverage in the affected region (36% according to the survey coverage in households, 2023) and 47% national vaccination coverage between 2014-2022 (per World Health Organization/UNICEF estimates), and the risk at the regional level is moderate and low at the global level. The outbreak is also characterized by high case fatality among confirmed cases. Other factors include: the over population of the Siguiri Health District, which is the epicentre of this outbreak, the weakened healthcare system and several concurrent epidemics in the area.

Overpopulation of the Siguiri Health Prefecture, the epicenter of this epidemic, as well as the insufficient and poorly qualified health personnel, and the limited material resources of the health system weakens the response to this outbreak. In addition, the country is facing several concurrent epidemics in the area, such as Pertussis, Poliomyelitis, and Rabies. Adding this to a context of extreme vulnerability due to mining activities, which induce significant population movement, reduce air quality, and increase the risk of natural disasters such as floods and landslides, impacting people’s health.

This emphasizes the urgent need to strengthen Diphtheria vaccination coverage nationwide, especially in the epicentre and strengthen case management at hospital facilities dealing with Diphtheria cases.

The control of Diphtheria is based on primary disease prevention by ensuring high population immunity through vaccination and secondary prevention of spread by the rapid investigation of close contacts to ensure prompt treatment of those infected.

The World Health Organization advises that epidemiological surveillance ensuring early detection of Diphtheria outbreaks should be in place in all countries, and all countries should have access to laboratory facilities for reliable identification of toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Adequate quantities of Diphtheria antitoxin should be available nationally or regionally for the medical management of cases.

Vaccination is vital to preventing cases and outbreaks, and adequate clinical management involves administering Diphtheria anti-toxin to neutralize the toxin and antibiotics reducing complications and mortality.

The World Health Organization recommends early reporting and case management of suspected Diphtheria cases to initiate the timely treatment of cases and follow-up of contacts and ensure the supply of Diphtheria antitoxin.

Although travellers do not have a particular risk of Diphtheria infection, it is recommended that national authorities remind travellers going to areas with Diphtheria outbreaks to be appropriately vaccinated in accordance with the national vaccination scheme established in each country before travel. A booster dose is recommended if more than five years have passed since their last dose.

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Conraua kamancamarai: A new species of Slippery Frog from the Fouta Djallon Highlands of west-central Guinea.

The Fouta Djallon Highlands of west-central Guinea form a series of plateaus, deep valleys, and steep slope-faces covered by a mixture of tropical and sub-tropical forests and grasslands. The area receives some of the highest rainfall in West Africa, but also has a wide range of micro-climates, providing a highly diverse environment with a high number of endemic species, which is relatively understudied by scientists. The floral uniqueness of the region has long been recognised, and there have been many calls to protect areas of pristine forest being encroached upon by agriculture and Cattle ranching, but the faunal uniqueness of the area has been very little studied.

In a paper published in the journal Zoosystematics and Evolution on 19 January 2022, Karla Neira-Salamea of the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, Joseph Doumbia of ONG EnviSud Guinée, Annika Hillers of the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation, Laura Sandberger-Loua, also of the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, N’Goran Kouamé of the Laboratoire de Biodiversité et Ecologie Tropicale at the Université Jean Lorougnon Guédé, Christian Brede of Lübeck in Germany, Marvin Schäfer, again of the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, David Blackburn of the Department of Natural History at the Florida Museum of Natural History, and Michael Barej and Mark-Oliver Rödel, once again of the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, describe a new species of Slippery Frog from the Fouta Djallon Highlands of west-central Guinea.

 

Hörè Binti landscape, Fouta Djallon, Guinea. Neira-Salamea et al. (2022).

Slippery Frogs, Conraua spp., are endemic to Africa, with seven species currently recognised, one from East Africa, three from Central Africa, and three from West Africa. However, a recent phylogenetic study of one of these species, Conraua alleni, should in fact be considered to be a species cluster (group of morphologically identical but genetically distinct species, known as 'cryptic species') rather than a distinct species. With this in mind, Neira-Salamea et al. carried out morphological and genetic tests on a group of Slippery Frogs held in the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, which were collected during an expedition to the Fouta Djallon in 2011, establishing that Frogs from Hörè Binti, Pita and Chute de Ditinn and Dalaba in the Fouta Djallon are all members of a new, previously undescribed species.

The new species is named Conraua kamancamarai, in honour of the late Kaman Camara, a long term field assistant and friend of the team, who began working with Mark-Oliver Rödel in 2002 on a survey to the Simandou Range that was organised by Conservation International, and worked with the team full time from 2007 until his death after a short illness in 2020, investigating the amphibians of the Nimba Mountains and other Guinean areas. Neira-Salamea et al. note that 'Kaman had outstanding skills in detecting and catching Frogs, and, more importantly, an unswerving positive attitude'. Kaman was born and lived in a remote village at the western foothills of the Simandou Range. He never received any formal education. Still, he repeatedly rejected other better paying job offers from mining companies, preferring instead to work with his frog team whenever it was possible.

 

Kaman Camara in June 2007 on Mount Nimba, Guinea. Inset figure taken on a Rapid Assessment to south-eastern Guinea, organised by Conservation International and Kaman’s first experience with frog work, from left to right: Mark-Oliver Rödel, Mohamed Alhassane Bangoura and Kaman Camara. Neira-Salamea et al. (2022).

Specimens of Conraua kamancamarai have a slightly dorsoventrally flattened, short and rounded body; the snout is rounded in dorsal and lateral view, the upper lip slightly projects forward. They range from 74.3 to 81.7 mm in length. Dorsal colouration ranges from uniform dark brown to predominantly brown with dark mottling or predominantly brown with dark spots. Ventral colour pattern of all specimens similar: whitish with distinct brown blotches, however, these blotches are lighter in the subadult specimens.

Colouration of life Conraua kamancamarai from the Fouta Djallon and surrounding region, Guinea, illustrating variation in colour pattern and skin texture. (a) From Dubreka, River Bindinbandan; (b) From Dalaba, Chute de Ditinn; (c) From Hörè Binti; (d) From Dubreka, River Bindinbandan; (e) From Dalaba, Chute de Ditinn; (f) From Télimélé, locality Kourakoto, river Didounpouriguè; Frogs in lower row in typical calling position, sitting in shallow water; specimens either not collected or not assignable to a voucher specimen, whereas the Frogs from Hörè Binti and Chute de Ditinn can be assigned to Conraua kamancamarai without doubt; the other Frogs may represent an undescribed Conraua species. Neira-Salamea et al. (2022).

Conraua kamancamarai occupies fast-flowing rocky streams with waterfalls within riverine forest in mountainous areas in the Fouta Djallon. Like other Frogs of the genus, Conraua kamancamarai is predominately nocturnal and aquatic. Despite their occurrence in fast flowing streams, adults show a preference for calmer river sections, where turbulent water is absent. Usually, Frogs are encountered at least partly submerged in shallow water, facing the riverbanks. When outside of the water, they remain within jumping distance to water. Disturbed Frogs seek shelter on the ground of pools, sometimes trying to burrow deeper into them and cover themselves with gravel or substrate. Mating has never been observed; however, single observations of clutches and jelly remnants of spawn indicate that oviposition sites are small puddles or depressions on the riverbanks near the spray water zone of cascades and waterfalls. Conraua Tadpoles usually were observed in silted calm ponds where up to 50 Tadpoles of about the same size have been encountered.

 

The type locality of Conraua kamancamarai near Konkouré Fetto, Fouta Djallon, Guinea. The Frogs live in clear, fast flowing streams, with riverine forest. Neira-Salamea et al. (2022).

The forest fragments where Conraua kamancamarai occurs are generally degraded by anthropogenic disturbance, particularly Peanut and Rice crops and Cattle grazing. The type locality is located between Konkouré and the largest city within the Fouta Djallon, Mamou, within a relatively short distance to the connection road and was surveyed on 20 June 2011. Along the national route one (N1), one of the largest roads connecting the East with the West of Guinea, houses are numerous, but already within a relatively short distance to the road, Human presence may be considerably scarcer. Slopes are either covered by an open, short, dry forest with signs of Cattle grazing and used for charcoal production or comparatively large fields for Peanuts or Rice crops. Only steep slopes surrounding rivers had sometimes larger trees and denser vegetation with higher humidity levels than the surroundings. The type locality is at a river within denser forest, with large boulders and some cascades, allowing for a diverse river site with fast and slow flowing parts and comparatively clear water. These forests are not protected and were in the past burned by the population as protest against government decisions in Conakry.

 

The surroundings of the type locality are heavily degraded by agriculture, Cattle grazing and charcoal production (inset figure). Neira-Salamea et al. (2022).

The classified forest (partly protected areas allowing forestry) of Hörè Binti is located within a mountainous area containing several freshwater sources. It was surveyed from 22–23 July 2010. Many fast-flowing streams with cascades have its source on the mountain. The habitat degradation due to anthropogenic alterations was dramatic and only very small forest fragments remained. The anthropogenic pressure consisted of cultivations/fields (mainly Peanut and Rice) and grazing Cattle. Only streams were surrounded by some remaining larger trees. The Ditinn/Dalaba site was within a small fragment of gallery forest with a stream, next to the waterfall of Ditinn. It was surveyed from 24–25 July 2010. Although there is a small village next to the forest, only minor anthropogenic alterations were detectable.

Because the full range of Conraua kamancamarai is unknown, Neira-Salamea et al. recoment that it be treated as 'Data Deficient' under the terms of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species. However, they also note that if the known populations do represent the entire range of the species, then it should be considered to be Endangered.

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Marburg Virus alert in Guinea comes to an end.

The Ministry of Health of Guinea has declared the end of the Marburg Virus Disease outbreak in Guéckédou Prefecture, Nzérékoré Region, according to a press release issued by the World Health Organization on 17 September 2021. In accordance with World Health Organization recommendations, the declaration was made 42 days after the safe and dignified burial of the only confirmed patient reported in this outbreak. This was the first-ever Marburg Virus Disease case reported in Guinea. 

On 16 September 2021, the Ministry of Health of Guinea declared the end of the Marburg virus disease outbreak in Guéckédou prefecture, Nzérékoré Region. In accordance with World Health Organization recommendations, the declaration was made 42 days after the safe and dignified burial of the only confirmed patient reported in this outbreak. This was the first-ever Marburg virus disease case reported in Guinea.

From 3 August 2021 to the end of outbreak declaration, only one confirmed case was reported.  The patient, a man, had onset of symptoms on 25 July. On 1 August he went to a small health facility near his village, with symptoms of fever, headache, fatigue, abdominal pain and gingival hemorrhage. A rapid diagnostic test for Malaria returned a negative result, and the patient received ambulatory supportive care with rehydration and symptomatic treatment. Upon returning home, his condition worsened, and he died on 2 August. An alert was subsequently raised by the sub-prefecture public health care facility to the prefectorial department of health in Guéckédou. The investigation team was immediately deployed to the village to conduct an in-depth investigation and collected a post-mortem oral swab sample, which was shipped on the same day to the Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Laboratory in Guéckédou city. On 3 August, the sample tested positive for Marburg Virus Disease by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and negative for Ebola Virus Disease. The deceased patient was buried safely and with dignity on 4 August, with the support of the national Red Cross.

On 5 August, the National Reference Laboratory in Conakry provided confirmation by real-time polymerase chain reaction of the positive Marburg result, and on 9 August, the Institut Pasteur Dakar in Senegal provided an additional confirmation that the result was positive for Marburg Virus Disease and negative for Ebola Virus Disease.

 

Negative stained transmission electron micrograph of a number of filamentous Marburg Virions, which had been cultured on Vero cell cultures, and purified on sucrose, rate-zonal gradients. Erskine Palmer/Russell Regnery/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Wikimedia Commons.

The Ministry of Health activated the national and district emergency management committees to coordinate the response and engage with the community. Additionally, the Ministry of Health together with the World Health Organization, the United States Centers for Disease Control, the Alliance for International Medical Action, the Red Cross, UNICEF, the International Organization for Migration, and other partners, initiated measures to control the outbreak and prevent further spread including the implementation of contact tracing and active case search in health facilities and at the community level.

During the outbreak, a total of one confirmed case who died, and 173 contacts were identified, including 14 high risk contacts based on exposure. Among them, 172 were followed for a period of 21 days, of which none developed symptoms. One high-risk contact was lost to follow up. At the different points of entry in Guéckédou prefecture where passengers were screened, no alerts were generated.

Ongoing activities include:  Capturing and sampling of Bats in the localities of Temessadou M´Boké, Baladou Pébal and Koundou to better understand the involvement of Bats in the ecology of Marburg Viruses; development of a sero-surveillance protocol in the sub-prefecture of Koundou; development and implementation of plans to strengthen Infection Prevention and Control programmes at the national and facility level including establishing and mentoring of Infection Prevention and Control focal persons, Infection Prevention and Control/hygiene committees, ongoing training of health workers and adequate procurement and distribution of supplies such as personal protective equipment; implementation of water, sanitation and hygiene measures with partners including in health facilities and communities; supporting training on community-based surveillance in Guéckédou Prefecture; and risk communication and community mobilization activities in Guéckédou Prefecture as a component of a health emergency preparedness and response action plan. 

 

A health worker in Gueckedou, Guinea. World Health Organization.

Marburg Virus Disease is an epidemic-prone disease associated with high case fatality ratios (24-90%). In the early course of the disease, clinical diagnosis of Marburg Virus Disease is difficult to distinguish from many other tropical febrile illnesses, because of the similarities in the clinical symptoms. Other viral hemorrhagic fevers need to be excluded, particularly Ebola Virus Disease, as well as Malaria, Typhoid Fever, Leptospirosis, Rickettsial infection and Plague. Marburg Virus Disease is transmitted by direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids and/or tissues of infected persons or wild Animals (e.g. Monkeys and Fruit Bats).

Investigations are ongoing to identify the source of the infection. Guinea has previous experience in managing viral hemorrhagic diseases such as Ebola Virus Disease and Lassa Fever, but this was the first time that Marburg Virus Disease was reported. The country has a fragile health care system due to the overburden of disease outbreaks, COVID-19 pandemic, and the recurrent threat of epidemics such as Malaria, Yellow Fever, Measles, Lassa Fever, Ebola Virus Disease, health care-associated infections, high rates of acute malnutrition, cyclical natural disasters such as floods, and socio-political unrest.

Guinea health authorities responded rapidly to the event, and measures were rapidly implemented to control the outbreak. Cross-border population movement and community mixing between Guinea and neighboring Sierra Leone and Liberia increased the risk of cross-border spread. Sierra Leone and Liberia health authorities activated contingency plans and started public health measures at the points of entry with Guinea.

The affected village is in a remote forest area located at the border with Sierra Leone, about 9 km from a main international border crossing point between the two countries. The proximity of the affected area to an international border, cross-border movement between the affected district and Sierra Leone, and the potential transmission of the Virus between Bat colonies and Humans posed an increased risk for cross-border spread. 

These factors suggested a high risk at the national and regional level, and given that Guéckédou Prefecture is well connected to Foya District in Liberia, and Kailahun District in Sierra Leone, this outbreak required an immediate and coordinated response with support from international partners. The risk associated with the event at the global level was assessed as low. 

Human-to-Human transmission of Marburg virus is primarily associated with direct contact with blood and/or bodily fluids of infected persons, and Marburg Virus transmission associated with the provision of health care has been reported when appropriate infection control measures have not been implemented. 

Health care workers caring for patients with suspected or confirmed Marburg Virus Disease should apply standard and transmission-based infection prevention and control precautions to avoid any exposure to blood and/or bodily fluids, as well as unprotected contact with the possibly contaminated environment. Infection prevention and control precautions include: Early recognition (screening, triage) and isolation of suspected cases; appropriate isolation capacity (including infrastructure and human resources); health care workers’ access to hand hygiene resources (i.e., soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub); appropriate and accessible personal protective equipment for health care workers; safe infection practices (emphasise on single-use only needles); procedures and resources for decontamination and sterilisation of medical devices; and appropriate management of infectious waste.

Infection prevention and control  assessments of health facilities in affected areas using the Infection Prevention and Control Scorecard revealed sub-optimal results highlighting the need for ongoing supportive supervision and mentorship for implementation of infection prevention and control in health care settings in addition to implementing infection prevention and control minimum requirements to support and strengthen future preparedness for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. 

Integrated disease surveillance and response activities, including community-based surveillance must continue to be strengthened within all affected health zones.

Raising awareness of the risk factors for Marburg Virus Disease and the protective measures individuals can take to reduce human exposure to the virus are the key measures to reduce Human infections and deaths. Key public health communication messages include: Reducing the risk of Human-to-Human transmission in the community arising from direct contact with infected patients, particularly with their bodily fluids; avoiding close physical contact with patients who have Marburg Virus Disease; a ny suspected case ill at home should not be managed at home, but immediately transferred to a health facility for treatment and isolation. During this transfer, health care workers should wear appropriate personal protective eqipment; regular hand washing should be performed after visiting sick relatives in hospital; and communities affected by Marburg should make efforts to ensure that the population is well informed, both about the nature of the disease itself to avoid further transmission, community stigmatisation, and encourage early presentation to treatment centers and other necessary outbreak containment measures, including safe burial of the dead. People who have died from Marburg should be promptly and safely buried.

To reduce the risk of wildlife-to-Human transmissions, such as through contact with Fruit Bats, Monkeys, and Apes: Handle wildlife with gloves and other appropriate protective clothing; cook Animal products such as blood and meat thoroughly before consumption and avoid consumption of raw meat; and during work, research activities or tourist visits in mines or caves inhabited by Fruit Bat colonies, people should wear gloves and other appropriate protective clothing including masks.

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Guinea reports the first ever case of Marburg Virus in West Africa.

Health authorities in Guinea have confirmed a case of Marburg Virus disease in Gueckedou Prefecture in the Nzérékoré Region of southern Guinea. This is the first time Marburg, a highly infectious disease that causes haemorrhagic fever, has been identified in the country, and in West Africa, according to a press release issued by the World Health Organization on 9 August 2021.

Marburg, which is in the same family as the virus that causes Ebola, was detected less than two months after Guinea declared an end to an Ebola outbreak that erupted earlier this year. Samples taken from a now-deceased patient and tested by a field laboratory in Gueckedou as well as Guinea’s National Haemorrhagic Fever Laboratory turned out positive for the Marburg virus. Further analysis by the Institut Pasteur in Senegal confirmed the result.

 

A health worker in Gueckedou, Guinea. World Health Organization.

The patient had sought treatment at a local clinic in Koundou area of Gueckedou, where a medical investigation team had been dispatched to probe his worsening symptoms.

'We applaud the alertness and the quick investigative action by Guinea’s health workers. The potential for the Marburg virus to spread far and wide means we need to stop it in its tracks,' said Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organization's Regional Director for Africa. 'We are working with the health authorities to implement a swift response that builds on Guinea’s past experience and expertise in managing Ebola, which is transmitted in a similar way.'

Gueckedou, where Marburg has been confirmed, is also the same region where cases of the 2021 Ebola outbreak in Guinea as well as the 2014–2016 West Africa outbreak were initially detected.

Efforts are underway to find the people who may have been in contact with the patient. As the disease is appearing for the first time in the country, health authorities are launching public education and community mobilisation to raise awareness and galvanize support to help curb widespread infection.

An initial team of 10 World Health Organization experts, including epidemiologists and socio-anthropologists is on the ground helping to investigate the case and supporting the national health authorities to swiftly step up emergency response, including risk assessment, disease surveillance, community mobilization, testing, clinical care, infection prevention as well as logistical support.

Cross-border surveillance is also being enhanced to quickly detect any cases, with neighbouring countries on alert. The Ebola control systems in place in Guinea and in neighbouring countries are proving crucial to the emergency response to the Marburg virus.

Marburg is transmitted to people from Fruit Bats and spreads among Humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials.

Illness begins abruptly, with high fever, severe headache and malaise. Many patients develop severe haemorrhagic signs within seven days. Case fatality rates have varied from 24% to 88% in past outbreaks depending on Virus strain and case management.

Although there are no vaccines or antiviral treatments approved to treat the virus, supportive care, rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids, and treatment of specific symptoms, improves survival. A range of potential treatments, including blood products, immune therapies and drug therapies, are being evaluated.

In Africa, previous outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, South Africa and Uganda.

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