Posted on 04/04/2005 8:16:51 PM PDT by djf
Angola: Marburg hemorrhagic fever death toll reaches 150 ----------------------------------------------- The outbreak of [Marburg hemorrhagic fever] has intensified in Angola, claiming more than 20 lives over the past 3 days [1-3 Apr 2005], taking the nationwide toll to 150. "In total, we have registered 163 cases, of whom 150 have died," Angola's Vice Health Minister Jose Van-Dunem told reporters on Sun 3 Apr 2005. The official toll had stood at 130 on Friday [1 Apr 2005]. The Marburg outbreak has claimed a record number of lives in Angola, overtaking an earlier peak in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.
"A 4th person has died in Luanda, but all 4 came from the province of Uige," which is the epicenter of the outbreak, about 300 km north of the coastal capital. A combined statement by the World Health Organization and the Angolan government, meanwhile, said 80 percent of the cases involved children under 15.
Causing a severe hemorrhagic fever similar to Ebola, Marburg virus spreads through contact with bodily fluids, such as blood, urine, excrement, vomit and saliva. The disease was 1st identified in 1967 in Germany, after laboratory workers were infected by monkeys from Uganda.
> ... nine persons in Italy have been put in isolation ...
Chances are they're uninfected, but with a death toll this
high, it's just a matter of time before a carrier hops on
a carrier, and sends the virus on a world tour.
None of the stories I've seen so far make any mention of
any attempts to quarantine the region.
Actually it sounds as if it's winding down. About 10 days ago it was at 121. Now it's 163, but since 150 are already dead that leaves only 13 and anyone who's been in contact with them to watch after.
Now THIS is scary!
I guess there is somewhat of a wave pattern to the process because it takes about ten days or so for an exposed person to become infectious.
I've been wondering if there are any folks who seem to have a natural immunity.
Resources:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/spb/mnpages/dispages/marburg.htm
http://www.who.int/topics/haemorrhagic_fevers_viral/en/
I like the part "Info for travelers"
It's always been one of my highest ambitions to go to Angola and eat monkey meat!
Not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monkey meat tastes like chicken.
> I like the part "Info for travelers"
http://www.cdc.gov/travel/other/marburg_vhf_angola_2005.htm
Yep. It's jaw-dropper. I expected the page to have a
headline of "Don't Go There, Dude", and instead, it's
drowsy boilerplate, with the first travel advice being
"No U.S. travel restrictions are recommended at this time."
CDC won't even study samples except in moonsuits at a
biosafety level 4 facility, but hey, if you feel like
going where this stuff comes from ... "Be sure to
include a thermometer, household disinfectant, and
alcohol-based hand rubs for hand hygiene."
And don't forget folks, we still have no idea what the
natural reservoir of this virus is. So don't touch
anything or eat anything while you're there, and don't
get bitten by anything either.
"No U.S. travel restrictions are recommended at this time."
Ok, I'm leaving tomorrow for Angola. LOL!
"ISN SECURITY WATCH (12/04/05) - Health officials in Angola said on Monday that 203 people out of 221 infected with the Ebola-like Marburg virus had died by Monday, as local and international health workers race to stem the spread of the disease."
"Some 360 contacts are being followed up by the teams in Uige,"
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=22660
bump
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