End of Marburg virus epidemic declared in Tanzania

Dar es-Salam, Jun 2 (Prensa Latina) The regional director of the World Health Organization (WHO) for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, declared today in a statement of that institution, the end of the Marburg virus epidemic in Tanzania.

June 2, 2023
11:12

This virus causes a severe hemorrhagic fever with potentially disastrous effects and is a highly infectious disease, experts said.

Those infected have a high fever and many may have severe hemorrhagic manifestations.

During the epidemic which began on March 21 and lasted 42 days nine cases and six deaths were reported.

The Marburg virus is part of the Filoviridae family, to which the Ebola virus also is part. It has already caused several deadly epidemics in Africa, and was identified for the first time in 1967 after simultaneous outbreaks in Marburg and Frankfurt (Germany) and in Belgrade (Serbia).

No treatment has so far been proven effective to eliminate it, although several immunological, pharmacological and blood-derivative treatments are being developed, according to WHO.

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