The Ministry of Health has confirmed an outbreak of the Marburg virus in Kitumba sub-county, Kabale district in western Uganda.
This follows laboratory tests done at the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) which confirmed three samples positive of the highly infectious viral hemorrhagic fever.
The director general health services Dr Jane Aceng say Preliminary reports from the district indicate that four other people had allegedly died of a strange disease since October 4th.
Investigations indicate that all the cases occurred among members of the same family in Kiyonjo parish in Kitumba sub-county.
Marburg is a killer disease caused by a virus and is spread through direct contact with wounds, body fluids like blood, saliva, vomitus, stool and urine of an infected person.
A person suffering from Marburg presents with sudden onset of high fever with any of the following; headache, vomiting blood, joint and muscle pains and bleeding through the body openings, i.e. eyes, nose, gums, ears, anus and the skin.
Marburg is a highly contagious disease and kills in a short time but can easily be prevented.
Dr Aceng adds that the Ministry of Health is working with stakeholders and other development partners to contain the spread of this disease.
She says following measures have been put in place in order to limit the spread of this highly infectious disease.
The ministry has appealed to members of the public to avoid direct contact with body fluids of a person suffering from Marburg by using protective materials like gloves and masks.
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