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Deadly Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda has health officials on high alert
[FoxNews] There are currently no treatments or vaccines for the highly fatal Ebola-like virusAmid reports of a deadly viral outbreak in Central Africa, researchers are reportedly scrambling to develop treatments and vaccines to combat the Marburg virus. As of Sept. 30, 2024, the country of Rwanda — which is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo — has reported 27 cases of the virus and nine subsequent deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Most of the cases have affected health care workers at two health facilities in the city of Kigali, the same source stated. The patients are being cared for in hospitals, as noted by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Sept. 29. "Contact tracing is underway, with 300 contacts under follow-up," WHO stated. This is the first time the Marburg virus has been reported in Rwanda. WHAT IS THE MARBURG VIRUS? Similar to Ebola, Marburg is a "rare but severe hemorrhagic fever" that can cause "serious illness and death," with a 20% to 90% fatality rate. There have not been any confirmed cases in the United States, and the CDC says the risk of infection in the country is low. "It is highly fatal in humans and there is no treatment — and unlike Ebola, there is no vaccine," Dr. Marc Siegel, senior medical analyst for Fox News and clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, told Fox News Digital. "It is very similar to Ebola in that it causes hemorrhagic fever," he added. Marburg is "difficult to catch," Siegel noted, as it requires close contact with bodily secretions. Wasn't a big Ebola issue with the ritual washing of the bodies before burial? Same here? Related: Marburg virus 10/03/2024 Passengers suspected of having deadly 'eye-bleeding' Marburg virus force closure of major German station Marburg virus 08/11/2021 A man died in West Africa of a virus that causes internal bleeding and organ failure. Marburg virus 12/30/2020 Just When You Thought It Was Safe To Breathe Related: Rwanda: 2024-10-03 Passengers suspected of having deadly 'eye-bleeding' Marburg virus force closure of major German station Rwanda: 2024-09-12 'The sooner we bring in border controls the better!': EU civil war over Germany's migrant plan continues as Geert Wilders vows to copy it for the Netherlands and Hungary welcomes Berlin to the '#stopmigration club' Rwanda: 2024-09-08 Agitprop: ‘Eurocentrism,' Non-Existent ‘Far-Right' Organizations Fuel British Riots Related: Kigali: 2024-05-01 Macron urges Rwanda to 'halt support' for M23 rebels Kigali: 2024-03-13 Rwanda's President agrees to meet Felix Tshisekedi over eastern Congo crisis Kigali: 2024-02-23 'End support for M23 rebels, pull troops out of DR Congo' France tells Rwanda Posted by: Skidmark 2024-10-05 |
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