Latest news with #Ebola-like
Forbes
07-04-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Tanzania's Marburg Outbreak Ended Swiftly. Here's What We Can Learn From It
Two health workers, wearing protection outfits, leave the isolated area where people infected by the ... More deadly Marburg virus are treated at the Americo Boa Vida hospital 03 April 2005, in Luanda. The death toll from the Marburg virus epidemic rose to 235 in Angola 17 April with some 500 people under surveillance after coming in contact with the Ebola-like virus, the health ministry and the World Health Organisation said. AFP PHOTO/FLORENCE PANOUSSIAN (Photo by Florence PANOUSSIAN / AFP) (Photo by FLORENCE PANOUSSIAN/AFP via Getty Images) The Tanzanian government declared an outbreak of Marburg virus on January 20 after one adult female became ill on December 9 and died on December 16, and a second victim was identified in January (and died Jan. 28). Another eight probable cases died before confirmation of the outbreak. With a 100% fatality rate, officials acted fast. By March 13, the government declared the end of the outbreak. I wanted to learn more about the course of this outbreak and what lessons it can offer public health officials worldwide, so I spoke with Dr. Abdi Mahamud, a medical epidemiologist who leads a department within the World Health Organization's emergency program. He was a key leader in the Marburg outbreak response in charge of providing technical and operational support in-country. 'So, when we have an incident like this, we form the incident management system,' Mahamud said. Marburg is a lesser-known cause of viral hemorrhagic fever than its 'cousin' Ebola, but like Ebola, it can cause outbreaks with high death rates. Marburg was discovered in 1967 after African green monkeys, imported for medical research from Uganda to Marburg, Germany, and Belgrade, Yugoslavia, touched off the first outbreak, leaving 31 infected and seven dead. Since then, there have been 18 additional outbreaks, ranging in size from one case to as many as 252 cases in the largest and deadliest outbreak (90% fatality rate), which occurred in Angola in 2004-5. Although, there have been fewer and smaller outbreaks of Marburg than those caused by Ebola species, Marburg has been on the move recently, surfacing in multiple African countries in the past five years, including: Guinea (2021), Ghana (2022), Equatorial Guinea (2023), Tanzania (2023) and Rwanda (2024). Large fruit bats are believed to be the reservoir for Marburg. Humans initially become infected, likely after contact with bats or other infected animals, such as monkeys. Once a human is infected, the virus spreads between humans through blood or body fluids. The disease moves quickly, with patients experiencing high fever, body aches, weakness, headache, a sore throat and a red, spotty rash in some. Illness progresses over the next few days, with vomiting and diarrhea followed by a worsening clinical course at the end of the first week or early second week. Patients' blood pressure falls, and they can go into shock or become disoriented. Some people's skin oozes in areas where they've had blood drawn or intravenous line were placed. The WHO has a network of 'public health intelligence' partners around the globe that feed it information on potential emergencies. Staff comb through the approximately 7,000 potential signals that come in regularly and 200 emails that arrive daily. A typical email might state, 'There's something going on here – at least be aware.' Personnel then work to verify reports through country leaders and other partners. A U.S. government-supported non-governmental organization sent the initial report on a possible outbreak of a viral hemorrhagic fever occurring in the Kagera region of Tanzania. There were some initial mixed messages between the WHO and the Tanzanian Ministry of Health, but the response aligned when WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus visited Dar es Salaam on Jan. 20 and pledged support alongside Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan. This alignment of response and resources was critical, because the northwest Kagera region is close to border regions for multiple countries, including Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya. WHO leaders wanted to prevent the type of cross-border spread that occurred during the largest Ebola outbreak ever, from 2014-16 in West Africa, which led to international spread, with 28,610 cases and 11,308 deaths. World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (L) speaks during a ... More joint news conference with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan in the Tanzanian capital of Dodoma, Jan. 20, 2025. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Monday confirmed the country's second outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) in two years. Speaking at a joint news conference with World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Hassan said that laboratory tests conducted at the Kabaile mobile laboratory in the northwestern Kagera region and later confirmed in Dar es Salaam identified one person in Biharamulo District as infected with MVD. (Tanzania State House/Handout via Xinhua) Dr. Mahamud was deployed as part of a 26-member team from WHO's headquarters, Africa regional and Tanzania offices to Kagera for nine days, and WHO assumed a supporting role that was 'Fully integrated with the MOH response,' he said. The WHO brings in specific expertise to assist across multiple response pillars, such as research and development, lab diagnostics, infection prevention and control, clinical management and training. Another major WHO role is coordinating multiple partners, including the Médecins sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), UNICEF, International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Africa Centers for Disease Control, U.S. CDC as well as community-based partners. WHO also helped build a surveillance system, a system for community engagement, contract tracing and training on safe, dignified burials. I asked Dr. Mahamud why there were only 10 cases, given how contagious Marburg can be to close family and healthcare contacts. He attributed this small number to significant outreach provided to 42 health facilities at risk and community workers who visited almost 73,000 households to search for cases and share prevention information. Also, officials quarantined anyone with potential exposure to the virus and gave them basic food and shelter in a hotel. They also took care of families, which was critical to gain the buy-in and trust of the involved communities. The other aspect that may have helped reduce spread was the outbreak's location. Unlike a recent outbreak in the capital city of Kigali, Rwanda, where many healthcare workers became infected, Kagera is a rural region with a lower population density, likely resulting in fewer opportunities for the virus to spread. There are no approved treatments or vaccines for Marburg, although there is ongoing research to develop them. During the outbreak response in Rwanda, authorities used an experimental vaccine for personnel at risk of infection, but as a product still under study, it had to be given with full informed consent and under a research protocol. This takes time to assemble, translate into local languages and approve through an ethical review board. The WHO and the Ministry of Health were putting the protocol together and the clinical trial was ready to be launched, but the outbreak ended too quickly to use the products. They'll be ready if another outbreak occurs in Tanzania in the future. I asked Dr. Mahamud what lessons we can take away from this outbreak response. 'Viral hemorrhagic fevers will happen,' he noted, adding that, 'the frequency and intensity will increase.' This is because three factors he called the 'three Es' align to create a situation conducive for outbreaks: According to Dr. Mahamud, in order to be prepared, we need to invest in better disease surveillance and other preparedness efforts to support the countries in need. We also must view a disease like Marburg through the lens of global health security and recognize the importance of partnerships to execute rapid and efficient responses to prevent cross-border and international spread. During our discussion, I couldn't help wondering how the response to a similar outbreak might play out in the future given the U.S. has withdrawn from the WHO and reduced the size of the U.S. CDC staff by around 18%. In addition, given that the initial outbreak report was sent by a U.S. government-funded NGO, how timely will future reports be after the cutoff of USAID support, and what will the impact be for vulnerable populations around the globe, not to mention global health security? The next outbreak is no doubt just around the corner, which will give us a chance to test the response effectiveness.
The Independent
07-03-2025
- Health
- The Independent
What is Lassa fever and what are the symptoms after UK case
A person with Lassa fever – which can cause Ebola-like illness in some people – travelled to England at the end of February, it has been announced. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it had been informed under international rules that a person travelled to England from Nigeria while they were unwell with Lassa fever. They then returned to Nigeria where they were diagnosed, it said. The UKHSA is now 'working to identify people who were in contact with the affected individual while they were in the country'. What is Lassa fever? Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness, belonging to the virus family Arenaviridae, that lasts between two and 21 days, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). The virus, for which there is no approved vaccine, is known to be endemic in Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria. But it also probably exists in other West African countries as well. What are the symptoms? After starting as a fever with aches and pains, the symptoms can progress to headache, vomiting and diarrhoea. Severe cases can cause victims to bleed from the mouth and nose. How is it transmitted and is it easy to catch? Humans can contract Lassa fever from eating food that has been tainted by the urine or faeces of rodents. The virus, like Ebola, can also be spread through contact with the bodily fluids of a sick person, but it does not spread easily between humans. According to the WHO, there is no epidemiological evidence supporting airborne spread from person to person. How deadly is Lassa fever? Most people with Lassa fever will make a full recovery although severe illness can occur. The overall case-fatality rate is 1 per cent, according to the WHO. But the observed case-fatality rate among patients who are admitted to hospital with severe cases of Lassa fever is 15 per cent. Early supportive care with rehydration and symptomatic treatment improves survival chances. How many cases have there been in the UK? Lassa fever cases are rare in the UK. Since 1971, there have been 13 confirmed cases of Lassa fever reported in the UK. All were linked to travel or were travel associated, according to the UKHSA. The last known incident was in February 2022 when a confirmed case, with recent travel to Mali, was reported. The person later died. Two further cases linked to this were subsequently detected. What is the risk to the public? The UKHSA said the risk to the public 'remains very low'. It is 'working to identify people who were in contact with the affected individual while they were in the country'.
Euronews
07-03-2025
- Health
- Euronews
Ebola cases in Uganda rise to 14 as new cluster emerges
By Euronews with AP The ebola outbreak poses a challenge for health workers in Uganda to contain. ADVERTISEMENT Uganda's Ebola caseload increased to 14 in the last week, Africa's top public health agency said on Thursday, with a new cluster emerging from a 4-year-old child who recently died of the infectious disease. Three of five new cases have been confirmed as Ebola, with two cited as probably Ebola, Dr Ngashi Ngongo of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) told journalists. The Africa CDC reported that there was no direct epidemiological link between the new cluster and another one accounting for nine previous Ebola cases, including the first victim of the outbreak. Ebola is now spreading in five of Uganda's 146 districts, it said. That includes Kampala, the capital, where the outbreak was declared on January 30. Two Ebola deaths have been confirmed. Local health officials have not been giving regular updates on the outbreak, raising concerns about a lack of transparency. At least three hospitals in Kampala have handled confirmed or suspected Ebola cases without later informing the public of it. Dr Charles Olaro, the director of health services in the Ministry of Health, told The Associated Press (AP) he believed the situation was under control. Officials were not required to give updates on every incident, he said. How to stop Ebola from spreading Tracing contacts is key to stemming the spread of Ebola, and there are no approved vaccines for the Sudan strain of Ebola that's infecting people in Uganda. Ebola, which is spread by contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or contaminated materials, manifests as a deadly haemorrhagic fever. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain, and at times internal and external bleeding. Scientists suspect the first person infected with Ebola in an outbreak acquired the virus through contact with an infected animal or eating its raw meat. Related Uganda to launch Ebola vaccine trial to fight outbreak that killed nurse Ugandan officials are still investigating the source of the latest outbreak. The first victim was a male nurse who died the day before the outbreak was declared. He had sought treatment at multiple facilities in Kampala and in eastern Uganda, where he also visited a traditional healer in trying to diagnose his illness, before later dying in Kampala. Uganda's last outbreak, discovered in September 2022, killed at least 55 people before it was declared over in January 2023. Dr Emmanuel Batiibwe, a hospital director who helped lead efforts to stop that outbreak, described the current one as "amorphous," throwing up sporadic cases that require more serious surveillance to locate and isolate contacts. Ebola in Uganda is the latest in a trend of outbreaks of viral haemorrhagic fevers in the east African region. ADVERTISEMENT Tanzania declared an outbreak of the Ebola-like Marburg disease in January, and in December Rwanda announced its own outbreak of Marburg was over. Uganda has had multiple Ebola outbreaks, including one in 2000 that killed hundreds of people. The 2014-16 Ebola outbreak in West Africa killed more than 11,000 people, the disease's largest death toll. Ebola was discovered in 1976 in simultaneous outbreaks in South Sudan and Congo, where it occurred in a village near the Ebola River, after which the disease is named.
The Independent
06-03-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Ebola cases in Uganda rise to 14 as new cluster emerges, posing a challenge to health workers
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Uganda's Ebola caseload increased to 14 in the last week, Africa's top public health agency said Thursday, with a new cluster emerging from a 4-year-old child who recently died of the infectious disease. Three of five new cases have been confirmed as Ebola, with two cited as probably Ebola, Dr. Ngashi Ngongo of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told reporters. The Africa CDC reported that there was no direct epidemiological link between the new cluster and another one accounting for nine previous Ebola cases, including the first victim of the outbreak. Ebola is now spreading in five of Uganda's 146 districts, it said. That includes Kampala, the capital, where the outbreak was declared on Jan. 30. Two Ebola deaths have been confirmed. Local health officials have not been giving regular updates on the outbreak, raising concerns about a lack of transparency. At least three hospitals in Kampala have handled confirmed or suspected Ebola cases without later informing the public of it. Dr. Charles Olaro, the director of health services in the Ministry of Health, told The Associated Press he believed the situation was under control. Officials were not required to give updates on every incident, he said. Tracing contacts is key to stemming the spread of Ebola, and there are no approved vaccines for the Sudan strain of Ebola that's infecting people in Uganda. Ebola, which is spread by contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or contaminated materials, manifests as a deadly hemorrhagic fever. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain and at times internal and external bleeding. Scientists suspect the first person infected with Ebola in an outbreak acquired the virus through contact with an infected animal or eating its raw meat. Ugandan officials are still investigating the source of the latest outbreak. The first victim was a male nurse who died the day before the outbreak was declared. He had sought treatment at multiple facilities in Kampala and in eastern Uganda, where he also visited a traditional healer in trying to diagnose his illness, before later dying in Kampala. Uganda's last outbreak, discovered in September 2022, killed at least 55 people before it was declared over in January 2023. Dr. Emmanuel Batiibwe, a hospital director who helped lead efforts to stop that outbreak, described the current one as 'amorphous,' throwing up sporadic cases that require more serious surveillance to locate and isolate contacts. Ebola in Uganda is the latest in a trend of outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic fevers in the east African region. Tanzania declared an outbreak of the Ebola-like Marburg disease in January, and in December Rwanda announced its own outbreak of Marburg was over. Uganda has had multiple Ebola outbreaks, including one in 2000 that killed hundreds. The 2014-16 Ebola outbreak in West Africa killed more than 11,000 people, the disease's largest death toll. Ebola was discovered in 1976 in simultaneous outbreaks in South Sudan and Congo, where it occurred in a village near the Ebola River, after which the disease is named.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Ebola cases in Uganda rise to 14 as new cluster emerges, posing a challenge to health workers
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Uganda's Ebola caseload increased to 14 in the last week, Africa's top public health agency said Thursday, with a new cluster emerging from a 4-year-old child who recently died of the infectious disease. Three of five new cases have been confirmed as Ebola, with two cited as probably Ebola, Dr. Ngashi Ngongo of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told reporters. The Africa CDC reported that there was no direct epidemiological link between the new cluster and another one accounting for nine previous Ebola cases, including the first victim of the outbreak. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Ebola is now spreading in five of Uganda's 146 districts, it said. That includes Kampala, the capital, where the outbreak was declared on Jan. 30. Two Ebola deaths have been confirmed. Local health officials have not been giving regular updates on the outbreak, raising concerns about a lack of transparency. At least three hospitals in Kampala have handled confirmed or suspected Ebola cases without later informing the public of it. Dr. Charles Olaro, the director of health services in the Ministry of Health, told The Associated Press he believed the situation was under control. Officials were not required to give updates on every incident, he said. Tracing contacts is key to stemming the spread of Ebola, and there are no approved vaccines for the Sudan strain of Ebola that's infecting people in Uganda. Ebola, which is spread by contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or contaminated materials, manifests as a deadly hemorrhagic fever. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain and at times internal and external bleeding. Scientists suspect the first person infected with Ebola in an outbreak acquired the virus through contact with an infected animal or eating its raw meat. Ugandan officials are still investigating the source of the latest outbreak. The first victim was a male nurse who died the day before the outbreak was declared. He had sought treatment at multiple facilities in Kampala and in eastern Uganda, where he also visited a traditional healer in trying to diagnose his illness, before later dying in Kampala. Uganda's last outbreak, discovered in September 2022, killed at least 55 people before it was declared over in January 2023. Dr. Emmanuel Batiibwe, a hospital director who helped lead efforts to stop that outbreak, described the current one as 'amorphous,' throwing up sporadic cases that require more serious surveillance to locate and isolate contacts. Ebola in Uganda is the latest in a trend of outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic fevers in the east African region. Tanzania declared an outbreak of the Ebola-like Marburg disease in January, and in December Rwanda announced its own outbreak of Marburg was over. Uganda has had multiple Ebola outbreaks, including one in 2000 that killed hundreds. The 2014-16 Ebola outbreak in West Africa killed more than 11,000 people, the disease's largest death toll. Ebola was discovered in 1976 in simultaneous outbreaks in South Sudan and Congo, where it occurred in a village near the Ebola River, after which the disease is named.
