WHO warns tourists of Marburg

2008-07-11 11:53

Geneva - The World Health Organisation (WHO) urged Ugandans and tourists on Friday to avoid entering caves with bats in the East African country after a Dutch woman returned home with deadly Marburg haemorrhagic fever.

"It is an isolated case of imported Marburg. People should not think about amending their travel plans to Uganda but should not go into caves with bats," WHO spokesperson Gregory Hartl said.

The 40-year-old woman, who remained in critical condition in a hospital in the Netherlands, entered caves in western Uganda twice during a three-week trip in June, according to the WHO.

She was believed to have been exposed to fruit bats in the python cave in the Maramagambo Forest, a popular tourist attraction between Queen Elizabeth Park and Kabale, but had also visited a cave in Fort Portal, it said.

"Marburg virus infection has been demonstrated by laboratory tests...," the WHO said in a statement.

'Avoid entering caves'

Marburg haemorrhagic fever was a severe and highly fatal contagious disease caused by a virus related to the Ebola virus. Patients often bleed from multiple sites and there was no vaccine or specific treatment.

The woman suffered fever and chills four days after her return home on June 28 and was admitted to Leiden Hospital, where she had liver failure and severe bleeding, the WHO said.

People who were in close contact with her upon her return had been monitored daily but none had shown any symptoms, according to Hartl.

"No measures were taken with respect to the passengers on the flight from Uganda as the flight occurred four days before the onset of symptoms in the patient," the WHO said.

"WHO has recommended that the ministry advise all residents and travellers to avoid entering caves with bat populations."

There was a Marburg outbreak among gold miners who work in caves in western Uganda in August 2007.

- Reuters