At least three people dead after Marburg virus outbreak confirmed in Uganda

Kampala, UGANDA (October 19, 2012) — At least three people have died following an outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus in Uganda, according to the Uganda Virus Insitute and the Uganda Ministry of Health. Health officials confirmed the virus had appeared in Kabale District in southwestern Uganda. The news followed the deaths of at least three people, all members of the same family, who died between September 22 and October 14.

“On Friday, a team of emergency health workers from World Vision joined the Emergency National Task Force set up by the Ugandan Ministry of Health. The team will meet again Saturday to finalize the emergency response plan.

"World Vision is prepared to respond aggressively to this outbreak, just as we did with the recent Ebola outbreak," said Gilbert Kamanga, the National Director for World Vision in Uganda.

The Marburg virus is similar to the often-fatal Ebola virus, and victims suffer the same side effects. It is very rare and has only been detected in four countries in the world: Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Angola. World Vision works in Kabala District, but to date, none of our staff or sponsored children have been affected by the virus.

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