Uganda contains deadly Marburg outbreak

Uganda's health ministry Monday announced that it has contained the deadly Marburg outbreak which killed one health worker and left over 150 people quarantined.

Jane Ruth Aceng, the Director General of Health Services, told Xinhua in an interview that all the alert, suspect cases and those who got in contact with index case who died Sep 30 have tested negative and completed the 21 mandatory monitoring days.

Aceng said the East African country Oct 22 begun the mandatory 21 days of the post-Marburg surveillance countdown period, which is a prerequisite before the World Health Organization declares a country free of Marburg.

"Uganda is very free from Marburg virus. Up to date, there is no new or suspected Marburg case recorded in the country," said Aceng.

People with Marburg experience fever, headache and muscle pain, according to WHO. Five days later, a rash across the chest, back and stomach may be observed. Nausea, vomiting, chest pain, sore throat, abdominal pain and diarrhea may also occur.

The virus is spread when one gets in contact with body fluids like blood, vomitus of those affected.