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The World Health Organization has posted a brief update on the Marburg virus outbreak in Uganda, which I blogged about on Friday (see Marburg Virus Reported In Western Uganda).
Marburg haemorrhagic fever in Uganda - update
22 October 2012 - As of 21 October 2012, nine (9) probable and confirmed cases, including 5 deaths have been reported with Marburg haemorrhagic fever in Kitumba sub-county, Kabale district in South-western Uganda. Of these, 3 have been laboratory confirmed by the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI).
An investigation into the outbreak is ongoing. Preliminary investigations indicate that all these cases belong to the same cluster – family and relatives of the index case.
WHO is supporting the Ministry of Health and partners in controlling the outbreak.
Marburg virus - like its better known cousins the Ebola viruses – produce hemorrhagic fevers with a high fatality rate.
The natural host for the Marburg virus is believed to be fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family, which can pass the virus on to other intermediate hosts, or directly to humans.
The red areas of the map above show the areas where Marburg is found in Africa, while the purple outline shows the range of the Pteropodidae fruit bat.
While most cases have occurred in central Africa, a few cases have been exported, via humans or lab animals, to other regions. The first known outbreak (in 1967) occurred at a laboratory working with green monkeys from Uganda in Marburg, Germany.
For more on the Marburg Virus, including narratives of previous outbreaks, you may wish to visit the WHO’s Marburg Resources page.
Information resources
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