WHO Confirms Marburg Case in Ugandan Toddler

A case of Marburg virus disease has been detected in a toddler in Uganda during enhanced surveillance for Ebola on Thursday, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO)

The case is a child aged 1 year and 5 months, WHO emergencies director Chikwe Ihekweazu told a press conference in Geneva.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus revealed that so far, no identified contacts of the case have shown symptoms.

“In Uganda, no new cases of Ebola have been reported since June 21.”

“However, on Tuesday this week, Uganda notified WHO of a confirmed case of Marburg virus disease in the country’s western Kyegegwa District.

WHO Confirms Marburg Case in Ugandan Toddler — FILE PHOTO: World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Credit: Reuters.

“The case was identified through enhanced disease surveillance for Ebola.

“Health authorities have informed WHO that they are monitoring all identified contacts, but so far, none have shown symptoms.

“WHO is supporting investigations to determine the source of exposure, assess the public health risk, and to support community engagement,” Tedros told reporters.

It’s pertinent to know that Ebola and Marburg are clinically similar, though caused by different viruses. Both produce haemorrhagic fevers and can cause outbreaks with high fatality rates. The virus is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through human-to-human transmission.

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