2022 Ghana Marburg virus disease outbreak
In July 2022, Ghana faced its first outbreak of Marburg virus disease, in the Ashanti Region. Two men, aged 26 and 51, developed symptoms and were confirmed positive on 8 July; both died. A third case was later confirmed, bringing the total to four confirmed cases, with three deaths (a fatality rate of about 75%). The World Health Organization confirmed the outbreak on 17 July 2022, and samples were sent to the Pasteur Institute in Dakar, Senegal for further testing.
Marburg virus disease is highly deadly. There are no vaccines or specific medicines for it; care is mainly supportive to help the body fight the infection. Early symptoms can resemble those of other illnesses, making diagnosis challenging. The virus is usually carried by Egyptian fruit bats and spreads between people through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person. Since 1967, there have been about 14 outbreaks, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa.
Health authorities and WHO experts were dispatched to assist Ghana in containing the outbreak.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 17:55 (CET).