Monday, October 22, 2012

CIDRAP: WHO reports 9 Marburg cases and 5 deaths in Uganda

Oct 22, 2012

Nine probable and confirmed cases of Marburg hemorrhagic fever, with five deaths, have been reported in southwestern Uganda, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported today, and a media report said one patient is being treated in a Kampala hospital, far from the origin of the outbreak. Three of the cases have been confirmed by the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), the WHO said in a statement. The outbreak is in Kitumba sub-county of Kabale district, where an Ebola outbreak killed 17 people in August. The Observer, a Ugandan news outlet, reported Oct 20 that all the victims have been from the same family. Patrick Tusiime, the Kabale district health officer, said the latest victim died Oct 20 and was quickly buried by a team of health officials to prevent the spread of the disease, according to the story. A Reuters report today said a woman with a confirmed Marburg infection is being treated in Mulago Hospital in the capital, 270 miles northeast of Kabale, where she arrived about 5 days ago. Investigators have not determined the source of the virus, the story said. In an Oct 21 statement, the WHO said it and the Ugandan health ministry sent a team to the district to support the investigation and response, including contact tracing. The agency did not recommend that any travel or trade restrictions be imposed on Uganda. The Reuters report said two Ugandan miners died in a Marburg outbreak in 2007 and that an outbreak in the country in 2000 involved 425 cases, nearly half of which were fatal.
Oct 22 WHO statement
Oct 22 Reuters story
Oct 21 Observer story
Oct 21 WHO statement

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