Biohazard Update: Dutch woman dies of Marburg virus from bat bite
Subscribe to News RSS feed July 11, 2008
A Dutch woman contracted the deadly Marburg virus while vacationing n Uganda. Apparently she came into contact with a fruit bat in a cave. Certain bats in a number of caves in that part of Africa are known to carry diseases including Marburg.
The woman had returned hom to the Netherlands when she took ill. Marbur is highly contagious and it is spread through bodily fluids. Because Marburg can result in haemorrhagic fever, patients have to be isolated and medical care professionals have to wear personal protective equipment while treating patients.
There is no known cure for Marburg, which is related to the even deadlier Ebola virus.
Health experts in the Netherland announced that the chances of the disease spreading in their country was very slim.
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