The virus was detected in the district of Mongomo, in eastern Kie-Ntem province, and a quarantine was established immediately to prevent the spread of the disease, a hemorrhagic fever similar to and as deadly as the Ebola.

We are investigating suspected cases of hemorrhagic fever. Only three people have shown mild symptoms of the disease and are isolated at a local hospital, Health Minister Mitoha Ondo’o Ayekaba said at a press briefing in the capital.

The minister added that the government is implementing a plan in collaboration with WHO to deal with the epidemic in this region, which includes two islets covered by dense equatorial forest.

The Marburg virus was detected in 1967 and named after the city of Marburg. Its name was changed to Lake Victoria fever, but shortly after it retook its name.

jg/iff/mem/msl