Marburg outbreak confirmed in Kabale

By Vision Reporter

Health experts have confirmed an outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus in the western district of Kabale after samples from two relatives taken to the Uganda Virus Institute tested positive.

Police Thursday stopped the burial of Boaz Turyahikayo a lecturer at Uganda Christian University and his sister Mildrid Asasira after it emerged that their family had lost four people from a mysterious disease in just a month.

The other two are Lillian Banegura their mother and an elder brother Bernard Rutaro who passed away early this month.

Dr. Patrick Tusiime the Kabale district health officer said a team from the Ministry of Health and World Health Organization is on its way to oversee the burial of the two victims.

The Marburg virus was last reported in Uganda in 2008.

It carries symptoms similar to those of Ebola that include fever, vomiting and internal bleeding.