Disease Outbreaks Reported
Final confirmation of Marburg infection
has been received from the National Institute for Virology, (NIV), South
Africa, in 4 of the 6 patients on whom we reported on 21 March (see Update
11). Samples from 3 patients had been confirmed positive by virological
tests at that time; positive results are now confirmed on 1 additional
sample. The remaining 2 samples were negative after extensive tests.
These confirmations yield a revised total of 16 cases since November 1999. Twelve have had the diagnosis confirmed by virological tests and 4 are classified as suspect cases as no clinical samples were available.
Disease activity is still continuing in the area, and further notifications are being received. Clinical samples are en route to NIV for investigation. Enhanced prevention and control measures are being implemented by Ministry of Health, Democratic Republic of Congo, WHO and Médecins sans Frontières (Holland).
=A9 WHO/OMS, 1998