Ugandan health authorities have confirmed an isolated case of Marburg virus disease (MVD) in a young child who died from the highly infectious viral hemorrhagic fever.The case comes as Uganda is already battling an outbreak of Ebola virus disease, another viral hemorrhagic fever.According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the Marburg infection was detected during surveillance for the ongoing Ebola outbreak, Reuters reported.Health officials said no contacts of the child have developed symptoms, and there are currently no active Marburg cases in the East African nation.While a spokesperson for Uganda’s Ministry of Health said they were unaware of a Marburg outbreak, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed it was notified of the case on June 30.”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 Raises QuestionsAlso read: Scientific Breakthrough: US Scientists Create First Synthetic Cell That Eats and ReproducesAccording to Africa CDC, the case was identified in Kyegegwa district in western Uganda in a 1½-year-old child who later 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,” Africa CDC spokesperson Saran Koly said.”Africa CDC stands ready to support verification, risk assessment and response readiness as needed.”Uganda last reported a Marburg outbreak in 2017 and has experience of managing three previous outbreaks. However, responding to a potential Marburg outbreak while simultaneously battling Ebola could complicate public health efforts.So far, Uganda has reported a total of 20 cases of the rare Bundibugyo species of Ebola, including two deaths. Of these, 15 cases were imported from the Democratic Republic of Congo.Marburg Infection In Child ‘Unusual’The child’s age has prompted questions about how the infection occurred. Abraar Karan, a global health physician and researcher at Stanford University, said infection in a toddler is unusual.”Quite unusual — I would suspect transmission from someone else, but there are some less-likely scenarios in which spillover could still have happened directly to a toddler,” he wrote in a post on X.Read More: WHO Issues First Clinical Care Guidelines On Ebola And Marburg DiseaseWhat Is Marburg Virus Disease?Marburg virus disease belongs to the same virus family as Ebola and can cause severe hemorrhagic fever. It was first recognized in 1967. MVD has a high case fatality rate ranging from 32 per cent to 88 per cent. It is transmitted to humans after a spill-over event from a wildlife reservoir such as Rousettus aegyptiacus fruit bats or their feces or contact with infected primatesOnce a person is infected, the virus spreads through direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids or contaminated materials of an infected person.Common Signs and SymptomsSymptoms usually begin suddenly and include:High feverSevere headacheMuscle painDiarrheaVomitingAbdominal painExtreme weaknessIn severe cases, patients may develop internal and external bleeding, organ failure and shock, which can be fatal.How Can Marburg Virus Be Prevented?There is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for Marburg virus disease, although several vaccines and therapies are under development. Early supportive care can improve survival.Health authorities recommend:Avoid direct contact with the blood and bodily fluids of infected people.Avoid handling the bodies of people who died from Marburg virus disease.Avoid close contact with bats and wild animals, and do not handle bushmeat.Anyone who develops symptoms within 21 days of visiting an area with a Marburg outbreak should contact public health authorities before visiting a healthcare facility and inform them about their travel history and any possible exposure.
Uganda Reports Child Death From Marburg Virus Disease: How to Prevent Infection
