WHO Multimedia Library

Reference ID U277WKF

Headline Uganda: Marburg virus disease, August 2007

Description Marburg hemorrhagic fever is a severe and highly fatal disease caused by a virus from the same family as the one that causes Ebola hemorrhagic fever. Both diseases are rare, but can cause dramatic outbreaks with high fatality. There is currently no specific treatment or vaccine. Two cases of Marburg virus infection were reported in Uganda. One of the people, a miner, died in July, 2007. A public information campaign was developed as well as training courses for local health workers. An international team of experts and scientists meanwhile worked to identify the hosts of the virus and its mode of natural transmission in the environment. They explored the mine cave where the outbreak appeared to have started in search of the reservoir of the Marburg virus.The bats captured from the Kitaka mine were taken to a nearby laboratory, just set up for this purpose. The scientists there worked through the night, taking blood and organ samples to look for Marburg virus antibodies. This photo story documents the combined efforts of WHO and its partners in the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network to monitor, investigate and control the outbreak of Marburg fever in Uganda.

The film van of the Ugandan Ministry of Health brings the message directly to communities. As well as providing information on the virus, health workers reach out to answer any and all questions. Many miners and their families live in the remote villages and questions arise as to how to protect oneself and what to do when a family member falls sick.
Marburg virus disease (MVD), formerly known as Marburg haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often deadly illness. The Marburg virus is a close relative of Ebola, and the two zoonotic pathogens are clinically similar and lead to severe viral haemorrhagic fever in humans. Though rare, both diseases have the capacity to cause dramatic outbreaks with high fatality rates. There is as yet no proven treatment or vaccine available for MVD. In 2007, two cases of Marburg haemorrhagic fever were identified in a remote mining area in western Uganda. One, a miner, died in July. A public information campaign was launched along with training courses for local health workers. Concurrently, an international team of experts and scientists worked to identify the hosts of the virus and its mode of natural transmission in the environment. In their quest to locate the reservoir of the Marburg virus, team members explored Kitaka mine cave, where the outbreak appeared to have started. At a laboratory set up nearby, they examined bats that were captured in the mine. Working through the night, scientists searched blood and organ samples for Marburg virus antibodies. This photo story documents the joint efforts of WHO and its partners in the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) to monitor, investigate, and control the outbreak of Marburg fever in Uganda.
The film van of the Ugandan Ministry of Health brings the message directly to remote mining communities. In addition to raising awareness of risk factors for Marburg infection, health workers reach out to the miners and their families to answer questions on how to protect oneself and what to do when a loved one falls sick.
Marburg virus disease (MVD), formerly known as Marburg haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often deadly illness. The Marburg virus is a close relative of Ebola, and the two zoonotic pathogens are clinically similar and lead to severe viral haemorrhagic fever in humans. Though rare, both diseases have the capacity to cause dramatic outbreaks with high fatality rates. There is as yet no proven treatment or vaccine available for MVD. In 2007, two cases of Marburg haemorrhagic fever were identified in a remote mining area in western Uganda. One, a miner, died in July. A public information campaign was launched along with training courses for local health workers. Concurrently, an international team of experts and scientists worked to identify the hosts of the virus and its mode of natural transmission in the environment. In their quest to locate the reservoir of the Marburg virus, team members explored Kitaka mine cave, where the outbreak appeared to have started. At a laboratory set up nearby, they examined bats that were captured in the mine. Working through the night, scientists searched blood and organ samples for Marburg virus antibodies. This photo story documents the joint efforts of WHO and its partners in the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) to monitor, investigate, and control the outbreak of Marburg fever in Uganda.

Asset date 08/21/2007

Country, area, WHO office Uganda

WHO Region AFRO

Consent No

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