https://www.foxnews.com/health/cdc-warns-marburg-virus-deadly-africa-outbreak
CDC warns of Marburg virus after deadly Africa outbreak
The CDC is sending personnel to assist with the outbreak of the Marburg virus in Guinea and Tanzania
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) is urging travelers to Guinea and Tanzania to be mindful of
contracting the deadly Marburg virus. The CDC is also sending personnel
to Africa to assist stopping the outbreak of the disease.
The Marburg virus
is an infectious disease that has high fatality rates and, according to
the World Health Organization (WHO), has epidemic potential.
This
week, the CDC announced that it is sending its National Center for
Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases to respond to the outbreaks in
Guinea and Tanzania.
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This week, the CDC urged travelers
in Guinea and Tanzania to avoid contact with sick people, health care
facilities in the outbreak areas and to watch for symptoms for three
weeks after leaving the area.
Equatorial
Guinea and Tanzania are facing their first known outbreaks of Marburg
virus. The CDC has likened the Marburg virus to Ebola. (Center of Disease Control)
In
February, Equatorial Guinea announced the first outbreak of the virus
and the country has since counted officially nine cases with an
additional 20 probable cases, all of whom have died, according to WHO.
Travelers
to Equatorial Guinea should take enhanced precautions and avoid
non-essential travel to the provinces where the outbreak is occurring,
the Center of Disease Control said. (Center of Disease Control)
About 1,800 miles away, across the continent, Tanzania is also reporting a Marburg outbreak and has confirmed eight cases, including five deaths, according to WHO.
On
March 21, 2023, Tanzania declared an outbreak of Marburg virus disease.
Confirmed cases have been reported in the Kagera Region. (Center of Disease Control)
The virus is a rare and deadly disease which causes fever, chills, muscle pain, rash, sore throat, diarrhea, weakness or unexplained bleeding or bruising.
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The
Marburg virus can be spread through "blood or body fluids of a person
infected with or who has died from Marburg," according to the CDC.
Marburg virus disease is a rare and deadly disease that has, at times, caused outbreaks in several African countries. (Center of Disease Control)
The
virus is also spread by contact with contaminated objects (such as
clothing, bedding, needles, and medical equipment) or by contact with
animals, such as bats.
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In
2018, at the Queen Elizabeth National Park in the Python Cave, CDC
scientists spearheaded a project after tourists and nearby village
experienced outbreaks of the virus.
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Health
experts investigated where the bats go at night to better understand
how the virus is transmitted to humans by putting GPS units on the backs
of bats to track their movements, according to the CDC.
Sarah Rumpf is a writer on the breaking news team for Fox News Digital. You can reach her on Twitter at @rumpfsarahc
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