Experts from Uganda, Kenya, WHO meet on combating deadly Marburg virus

KAMPALA, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Health experts and scientists from Uganda, Kenya and the World Health Organization (WHO) are meeting in eastern Uganda to discuss ways of combating the deadly Marburg virus disease.

The experts meeting in Kapchorwa district, the epicenter of the current outbreak in Uganda, will share knowledge on Marburg prevention mechanisms and develop common plans for cross-border surveillance.

Henry Mwebesa, acting director general of health services at Uganda's Ministry of Health, said in a statement that the meeting serves as a platform for sharing surveillance data, epidemiological and other related information on the highly fatal virus outbreak reported in the Kween and Kapchorwa districts.

Uganda's ministry of health on Friday said it traced a traditional healer who traveled to West Pokot in neighboring Kenya after getting into contact with the second confirmed case of Marburg in Kween.

There are currently six cumulative cases, including three deaths, two confirmed, one probable and three suspected, since the outbreak was first reported last month.

Marburg is a severe and highly fatal disease caused by a virus from the same family as the one that causes Ebola hemorrhagic fever, according to the WHO.

According to the global health body, the illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly with severe headache and malaise.