NYT/AP: Marburg Virus Outbreak Said Under Control

[DeepModem Mom]

Marburg Virus Outbreak Said Under Control
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: May 31, 2005
Filed at 10:54 p.m. ET


LUANDA, Angola (AP) -- Africa's most serious outbreak of the Ebola-like Marburg virus has been brought under control after killing more than 300 people, a senior World Health Organization official said Tuesday.

''The epidemic's peak has passed and the trend is very favorable,'' Dr. Luis Gomes Sambo, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, told reporters.

However, WHO has warned that while the number of infections is tailing off, new cases are still emerging and any one of them could spark a new crisis.

Marburg hemorrhagic fever is a rare but deadly disease caused by a virus from the same family as the one that causes Ebola hemorrhagic fever. It spreads through contact with bodily fluids and can kill rapidly, usually about nine days after the first symptoms.

The Marburg virus killed 334 people since it appeared in October in Angola's northern province of Uige, which has been the epicenter of the outbreak....


http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Angola-Deadly-Virus.html

[Fire Walk With Me]

1. Finally, a major story/outlet after months of nothing

What thankless jobs the WHO and CDC have.

"Thanks"