Africa CDC confirms isolated Marburg case in Uganda

Africa's top public health agency ‌said on Wednesday that Ugandan health authorities had confirmed an isolated case of Marburg virus disease, a highly infectious hemorrhagic fever, ​while conducting surveillance for the country's Ebola ​outbreak.

A spokesperson for the Africa Centres for Disease ⁠Control and Prevention added that according to Uganda no contacts ​of the Marburg case had developed symptoms and there was ​currently no active case in the East African country.

A spokesperson for Uganda's health ministry said he was not aware of ​a Marburg outbreak.
Africa CDC said the Marburg ​case was detected in Kyegegwa district in the west of ‌Uganda, ⁠in a one-and-a-half-year-old child who had 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," the spokesperson Saran Koly ​said.

"Africa CDC stands ready to support verification, ​risk ⁠assessment and response readiness as needed."
Two World Health Organization officials told Reuters they were also aware ⁠that ​Uganda had detected a Marburg ​case.

Uganda's last Marburg outbreak was in 2017.

-Reuters