Case detected during Ebola surveillance
Ugandan health authorities have confirmed an isolated case of Marburg virus disease, a highly infectious illness identified during surveillance linked to the country’s Ebola outbreak.
The case was announced Wednesday by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, known as Africa CDC.
Child dies in western Uganda
The confirmed infection involved a one-and-a-half-year-old child in Kyegegwa district, in western Uganda.
The child died after contracting the virus, according to the public health update.
No active Marburg cases reported
A spokesperson for Africa CDC said Ugandan officials had reported that none of the child’s contacts had developed symptoms.
The spokesperson also said there were currently no active Marburg cases in Uganda.
Health ministry gives a cautious response
A spokesperson for Uganda’s health ministry said they were unaware of a Marburg outbreak.
Saran Koly, spokesperson for Africa CDC, said the agency was engaging with Uganda through official public health channels to clarify the reports.
“At this stage, we cannot confirm reports of any additional case,” Koly said.
Koly added that Africa CDC “stands ready to support verification, risk assessment and response readiness as needed.”
WHO officials aware of detection
Two officials from the World Health Organisation said they were aware that Uganda had detected a Marburg case.
Uganda’s most recent recorded Marburg outbreak occurred in 2017.
Ebola outbreak adds pressure
The Marburg detection comes as Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo face the fastest-recorded Ebola outbreak to date.
Experts have warned that the outbreak could reach South Sudan in the coming weeks.
DRC outbreak passes 1,000 cases
Since the Ebola outbreak was declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on May 15, confirmed cases have risen above 1,000.
Nearly 300 deaths have been reported.
The epicentre is Ituri province, near the borders with South Sudan and Uganda. A small number of Ebola cases have also been confirmed in Uganda.
