The Ministry of Health has said it has no information confirming an outbreak of Marburg viral hemorrhagic fever in Uganda.
The statement followed public concern after the United States Embassy in Kampala issued an advisory to its citizens about a possible Marburg case in western Uganda.
The embassy said it was aware of reports of a potential case of Marburg Virus Disease, a viral hemorrhagic fever. It advised citizens to observe precautions similar to those used against other viral hemorrhagic fevers, including Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Disease.
However, Emmanuel Ainebyoona, the Ministry of Health Senior Public Relations Officer, told URN that the ministry had no such information.
Ministry Says No Marburg Report Received
Ainebyoona said the Ministry of Health was not aware of any confirmed Marburg outbreak in the country.
His response came as international media continued to report that Uganda had formally notified the World Health Organization about a confirmed Marburg case.
Efforts by URN to reach the WHO Uganda country representative, Dr Kasonde Mwinga, were unsuccessful. Calls to her went unanswered.
The conflicting reports have raised concern because Marburg belongs to the same group of viral hemorrhagic fevers as Ebola.
Uganda Still Managing Ebola Bundibugyo Outbreak
The Marburg fears come as Uganda continues to manage an outbreak of Ebola Bundibugyo.
According to Ministry of Health statistics shared on Wednesday, three patients remained in admission.
Since the outbreak was declared in May, Uganda has confirmed 20 cases. Of these, 15 were imported from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.
Health officials have been working to contain the outbreak through surveillance, case management and other response measures.
What Is Marburg Virus Disease?
Marburg Virus Disease is a severe viral hemorrhagic fever that can spread quickly if not managed early.
Like Ebola, Marburg can be highly lethal. The disease has an average fatality rate of about 50 per cent.
In previous outbreaks, case fatality rates have ranged from 24 per cent to 88 per cent. Experts say early supportive care, including rehydration and treatment of symptoms, improves survival chances.
Uganda’s last fully confirmed Marburg outbreak was reported in October 2017. The first case in that outbreak involved a 50-year-old woman in Kween District, eastern Uganda.
The disease has been known for more than 50 years. The first documented outbreak was reported in the 1960s in Marburg, Germany, where scientists were conducting research involving monkeys from Uganda.
Several outbreaks have since been reported in other countries, including the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.
How Marburg Spreads
Marburg is believed to be carried by bats and can also be linked to infected animals such as monkeys.
The virus spreads through direct contact with the blood, secretions or other bodily fluids of an infected person or animal.
Health experts advise the public to avoid contact with suspected cases and to report symptoms or possible exposure to health authorities.
For now, Uganda’s Ministry of Health maintains that it has no official information confirming a Marburg outbreak.
