WHO confirms Marburg case in Uganda's Kyegegwa district

Health officials in Uganda have confirmed a case of Marburg virus disease in the country's western Kyegegwa District, the World Health Organization announced on Thursday. The case, a child aged one year and five months, was detected through enhanced surveillance systems established for the ongoing Ebola outbreak.

The WHO's emergencies director, Chikwe Ihekweazu, identified the patient during a press conference in Geneva. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that health authorities are monitoring all identified contacts, and so far, none have shown symptoms. The organization is supporting investigations to determine the source of exposure and assess the public health risk.

Marburg virus disease is a severe and often fatal hemorrhagic fever, with an average case fatality rate of around 50 percent, though historical outbreaks have seen rates vary widely. The virus is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated materials. There are currently no approved vaccines or antiviral treatments, though several candidates are under development. Early supportive care, including rehydration...