UN increases efforts to combat Marburg fever

United Nations agencies are increasing efforts to help combat the deadly Marburg fever in Uganda which has killed one person with over 100 put under close observation.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) in a joint statement issued Wednesday said that they are responding to the outbreak by supporting areas of social mobilisation geared towards creating more awareness about the disease, technical assistance as well as logistical support for contact tracing, Xinhua reported.

"We are providing technical expertise and financial support to ensure that messaging is directed through the mass media and social networks," a UNICEF official said.

"WHO is providing technical support and has deployed a team of experts from the WHO Regional Office to support national and district response," a health official said.

People with Marburg experience fever, headache and muscle pain.

Five days later, rashes across the chest, back and stomach may be observed.

Nausea, vomiting, chest pain, sore throat, abdominal pain and diarrhoea may also occur.

It is spread when one comes in contact with body fluids like the blood or vomit of those affected.

Since the reported outbreak of Marburg in Uganda Oct 5, only one case was confirmed following laboratory tests done at the Uganda Virus Research Institute.

The health ministry puts the number of contact cases at 109 as of Oct 7.