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The Marburg virus is very similar to the Ebola virus. It is a rare, but highly contagious and deadly virus. Like Ebola, the Marburg virus causes hemorrhagic fever that can lead to heavy internal bleeding. Depending on the available medical care and the virus strain, between 25 and 94 percent of infected people die. In African countries with a poorly developed medical infrastructure, the virus can therefore do an ugly job.
It is the first time that Ghana has to deal with an outbreak of the virus. Some other countries in Africa, such as Uganda and Kenya, have reported some cases before. The last known case dates from last year. At that time, one infection with the virus was detected in Guinea.