Ugandan health authorities have confirmed an isolated case of Marburg virus disease, a highly infectious hemorrhagic fever, while conducting surveillance for an Ebola outbreak, Africa's top public health agency said on Wednesday.
No Active Cases or Symptomatic Contacts
No contacts of the Marburg case have developed symptoms and there is currently no active case in the East African country, a spokesperson for the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added, citing Ugandan authorities. A spokesperson for Uganda's health ministry said he was not aware of a Marburg outbreak.
World Health Organization Notified
The World Health Organization said it had been notified of a case by Uganda on 30 June, and had informed its member states. “WHO has requested further information and is supporting the local response, including case investigation, active case finding, contact tracing and community engagement,” a WHO spokesperson said.
Child Death in Kyegegwa District
Africa CDC said the Marburg case was detected in Kyegegwa district in the west of Uganda, in a 1-1/2-year-old child who had died. “Africa CDC is engaging the Government of Uganda through official public health channels on reports concerning Marburg virus disease. At this stage, we cannot confirm reports of any additional case,” the spokesperson, Saran Koly, said. “Africa CDC stands ready to support verification, risk assessment and response readiness as needed.”
Previous Outbreaks and Ebola Link
Uganda's last Marburg outbreak was in 2017, and it has had three others, the WHO spokesperson said. Responding to Marburg requires the same steps as responding to Ebola, they added. Uganda is already tackling an Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak, linked to the emergency in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. There have been 20 Ebola cases in Uganda and two deaths.
