Posted on 04/25/2005 11:33:15 AM PDT by tdewey10
WHO Fears Marburg Spreading in Africa
Luanda, Apr 25 (Prensa Latina) The World Health Organization fears the Marburg outbreak in Angola could become an epidemic of serious consequences for the African continent.
WHO official Alfred Formend indicated the outbreak of Marburg virus currently battering eight Angolan provinces -mostly Uige- remains a threat for other regions and neighbouring countries. The behavior of the population in the affected areas is also worrying, due to the lack of confidence in preventive measures.
Pascoala Solo, coordinator of the Local Anti-Marburg Commission, highlighted many infected patients leave the hospitals and return to their homes, maintaining direct contact with their relatives and increasing chances of its spreading.
The WHO expert, who supervises tasks for detecting and treating the disease in Uige, reiterated the virus is very contagious and deadly, a reason of high concern over its possible continental spread.
Poverty, illiteracy, and lack of an adequate health infrastructure are the disease´s main allies in this region, the result of century-old colonial domination, internal wars, and foreign intervention.
I am so pleased that you found and posted this article--have you been following the Marburg threads?
Following the threads closely.
Hope you don't mind, I used my ping list; only problem is it may be a little out of date and missing some folks, because I'm not at home on my own computer.
...And just who is this Marburg fellow and what's he doing in Africa?
Hi..I've been following some of the articles..kindly add me to your ping list..and can I impose on you or anyone with a question, apologies in advance if it's ben discussed at length..<P.
Has anything been written or researched on the cross effect/intereaction between the hemorragic diseases and AIDS? Specifically, since so much of Africa suffers from AIDS, one would assume that these poor people are more susceptible to Marburg/Ebola.
Please add me to your ping list, thank you.
Seems to be echoing your fears/suspicions/worries.
Between Aids, Marburg, Ebola, famine and civil war, I'd say let's leave Africa alone. Period.
Another generation or two and, quite frankly, problem solved.
Sheesh. Poverty is no more of an ally of Marburg than a dollar is a cure.
WHO publicity about a disease like Marburg spreading generates money... for WHO. It's a viral tsunami effect.
That's just La Prensa (aka Cuban dis-information service) talking.
And how did century old colonialism cause all those afflictions? I KNOW if the area was still colonialized, there would not be an outbreak of this magnitude. Yes, Africa is dead from the retreat of Europe.
A Marburg outbreak is a great reason to freeze African immigration and visits without a total health quarantine period.
Australia quarantines American dogs for nine months of observation before admitting them from quarantine and sprays all human visitors with insecticide before allowing them off the planes onto Australian soil.
The US really should be doing this with all third worlders. Malaria, TB, and now Marburg are walking right through our airports.
Gee, what a compassionate point of view. Do you have some kind of emotional problem?
Ken, I'm not on my home computer, I'm at my daughter's house, and my ping list here is a little out of date. If I forget, please ask me again tomorrow night...thanks.
Nothing has been written or researched that I know of, but regardless of a person's HIV status, Marburg is going to be fatal in this outbreak. So a person could certainly be perfectly healthy and die of Marburg, as it is likely Dr. Bonino was, or be HIV positive and die of Marburg, or have malaria or leprosy, and die of Marburg.
In other words, it most likely does not make much difference. Just my SWAG.
I saw that--the highest number I've seen before is five provinces...strange, isn't it?
"Poverty, illiteracy, and lack of an adequate health infrastructure are the disease´s main allies in this region, the result of century-old colonial domination, internal wars, and foreign intervention.
I know that a couple of decades ago, Russian soldiers aiding Angolan rebels came to Cuba's island paradise for R&R...what's the connection now?
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