Search articles from thousands of Examiners
Write for us
Denver Education and Schools Science Examiner
Science Examiner

First US case of rare Marburg hemorrhagic fever confirmed

February 8, 2:20 AMScience ExaminerTrina Hoaks
Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe


Get alerts when there is a new article from the Science Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.
Email Address


  Include other special offers from Examiner.com
Terms of Use

It was announced Friday that the first US case of Marburg hemorrhagic fever has been confirmed.

An unnamed person apparently contracted the rare disease while visiting a python cave in Maramagambo Forest in Queen Elizabeth Park. It was reported that while there, the victim came in contact with fruit bats. Fruit bats are carriers of the Marburg virus.

The virus is said to be indigenous to Africa. It can be transmitted from infected animals or through infectious bodily fluids, like saliva and blood.

The person went to the hospital in January, 2008 and returned in June, 2008. Test results from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) were returned to the hospital at the end of January, 2009 confirming that the victim has the Marburg virus.

The virus was initially contracted from monkeys and/or their tissue back in 1967. There was a total of 32 people infected, of which seven died.

It was not until the virus was found in bats in 2007 that the virus was found in animals other than primates.

There have been a couple of "big" outbreaks of Marburg fever. In the Congo, from 1998 to 2000, 154 people were infected. Of those 154 infected, 128 died.

Another breakout occurred in Angola from 2004 to 2005. More than 300 people died during this outbreak.
 

For more information:
See the original story.
See Wikipedia.

More About: General

Add a Comment

Name:


Comments:
characters left

NOTE: Do Not Alter These Fields:

Recent Articles

Tuesday, November 3, 2009
A federal district court ruled yesterday that patients and scientists can challenge patents on human genes in court, allowing a lawsuit challenging …
Monday, November 2, 2009
Executive Director Eugenie Scott of the National Center for Science Education takes aim at creationist Ray Comfort's distorted views on evolution …

Things to see and do

Tropical Odyssey: A Journey in Conservation
09 Nov 2009 - 9 am
Butterfly Pavilion and Insect Center
More special event »
Knitting for Our Troops
Denver Public Library