Marburg virus fatality rates decreasing in Angola, says WHO

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http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=23383

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Marburg virus fatality rates in Angola are beginning to fall from a peak of 35 deaths per week to just 15.

Experts say although a fall in death rates is good news, one can only be sure the outbreak is really over when the virus has been completely eradicated.

There have been 266 cases so far, of which 244 have been fatal, say officials.

Organizations still have to struggle to educate the local community. There is a great deal of fear, and this fear hinders the mission of health workers.

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U.N.: Marburg Virus Coming Under Control

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-deadly-virus,0,1468766.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines

LONDON -- Medical teams trying to stamp out the worst recorded incidence of Marburg virus in Angola are beginning to get the deadly outbreak under control as cooperation from stricken communities improves, the U.N. health agency said Saturday.

The virus, closely related to the feared Ebola virus, has caused hemorrhagic fever in 266 people and killed 244 of them since March, when the outbreak first came to the attention of health authorities.

As communities began to understand the dangers of the virus, though, the number of new cases dropped from an average of 35 per week to 15, the World Health Organization reported.

"This is good news, but it doesn't mean the outbreak is over," said Dr. Fatoumata Diallo, the WHO representative in Angola.