Marburg identified in Angola
2005-03-22 20:30
Luanda - An outbreak of haemorrhagic fever, that has claimed the lives of 96 people in northern Angola, was caused by the Marburg virus, Angola's deputy health minister said on Tuesday.
The Marburg disease, a severe form of haemorrhagic fever in the same family as Ebola, was first recognised in 1967 and is indigenous to Africa, affecting both humans and primates.
Angolan deputy health minister Joseph Van Dunem said results from 12 samples sent to the US Centres for Disease Control had detected the virus.
"We have received the results," Van Dunem told a news conference. "We are dealing with the Marburg virus."
- SAPA