Marburg Surveillance Project

Various ^ | May 4, 2005 | Vanity

[Judith Anne]

Welcome to the Marburg Surveillance Project.

This thread will be used for all of the latest Marburg Outbreak News and comments. This is the place to post all comments about the Marburg outbreak, all articles and links to articles about the Marburg outbreak.

We're going to use just one thread instead of having to go from article to article as we have in the past. We'll use this thread as long as we can.

[genefromjersey]

Once Marburg has been "seeded",it will spread quickly by contact with the patient,and by "aerosol" means (breathing the off-shed virus).

Here's a possible candidate for a deliberately contaminated
vaccine:

http://havanajournal.com/culture_comments/3352_0_3_0_C/

Our neighbors to the very immediate south have a highly developed biotech industry,on which "El Supremo" has spent about 2 BILLION dollars in hard-to-get cash.

It has been said the Cuban biotech industry has been set up along the lines of the Russian "biopreparat" system:a pharmaceutical program that can be converted almost instantly into bioweapons production.

[Former]

interesting.. what about the scientists who have been killed here in America? One scientist, from Memphis, TN, who supposedly committed suicide, by jumping off of the !-40 bridge into the Mississippi River, but whose family said, no... ?? wondering about this article regarding terroists breeding ground in Africa...?? just wondering.

[Former]

Oops, left off the link:
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2005/05/08/1031026-cp.html

[Taxcider]

ping

[tdewey10]

Angop latest (google translate)

(1) More evidence of transmission in Bie province.

Bié: Troops debate on Marburg virus


Kuito, 09/05 - the provincial direcção of the Health of the Bié carries through tuesday, in the Command of the Military Zone of the city of the Kuito, a lecture on the hemorrhagic fever caused by the Marburg virus and its effect between the population.

One press note the one that the Angop had access today says that the lecture, fit in the commemorations of the Week of the Nurse, aims at to infuse to the troops the consequências of occasions it, that it is to make to cause some mortal victims in the country, mainly in the province of the Uíge.

The participants to the meeting will be informed still on the signals, symptoms, forms of contágio, measures of prevention and distinguishing diagnosis of the hemorrhagic fever with other illnesses.

In the city of the Kuito already a commission was created technique, integrated for communal nurses, administrators, elements afecto to the National Policy, religious education, entities, traditional authorities, national and foreign Não-Governamentais Organizations, that operate in the region, with the objectivo to develop tending shares to prevent the hemorrhagic fever.

For a bigger abrangência, this subject will be extensive to other localities of the province and in diverse national languages, as Umbundo, Ganguela, Cokwé, Luimbi, Songo, among others.

(2) More evidence that Angola doesn't know what the count is:

http://www.angolapress-angop.ao/noticia.asp?ID=340050
Luandense association promotes lecture on Marburg


Luanda, 09/05 - a called lecture "Virus of Marburg - Perspective biological doctor and" will be carried through friday (day 13), from 18h00, in anfiteatro of the Lusíada University, under égide of the Association of Natural, Resident and the Friends of Luanda "the Kalu".

As one notices of the association the one that the Angop had access today, the dissertação will be made by Fernanda Lakes, doctor in microbiana génetica and teacher associated of the Department of Biology of the College of Sciences of Universidade Agostinho Neto (UAN) and Helena Victory Pear tree, titular teacher of the College of Medicine of the UAN.

The hemorrhagic fever for virus of Marburg appeared in the province of the Uíge and until today already it caused 206 deaths of the 325 cases registados, since 13 of October of 2004.

The manifest illness with high fever, vomits or diarreia with blood. The blood can also appear in any part of the body.

Or the alternate Count:
http://www.angolapress-angop.ao/noticia.asp?ID=340069
Number of cases of Marburg diminishes in the Uíge


Luanda, 09/05 - the hemorrhagic fever of Marburg made more two dead ones in last the 24 hours, in the province of the Uíge, without however, if to registar any new case of contágio, announced today, the vice-minister of the Health, Jose Van-Dúnem.

The two deaths had occurred in the Provincial Hospital of Uíge, being only one confirmed by the laboratory and suspicious other, continuing interned quatros patients.

The number of deaths caused for the virus of Marburg is raised for 284, of the 322 cases registados since October of 2004.

In accordance with the daily report of the World-wide Organization and Health department of the Health, the daily rocking shows a reduction of cases, underlining that since the beginning of the epidemic this is the second time that do not notify new patients, the first one was verified in the last tuesday.

In relation to the last week, a fast reduction of cases, lowering of 28 for 22 was registou.

For Jose Van-Dúnem, this picture is resulted of the intense work that is to be developed by them equips doctors of the point of view of the mobilization, affirming that in this height the illness is circumscribed only in the province of the Uíge.

The governor enhanced that the fact of the tradicioais therapists to integrate equips them of mobilization, moving away from this form, the beliefs of the populations who invoked cultural aspects and refused the advice of the technician, contributed for the reduction of the epidemic.

According to sanitary sources, the epidemic will be able to consider controlled if after 21 days if not to registar any case and eradicated if if to the same verify picture after six weeks.

[Judith Anne]

Thank you. You consistently come up with the most recent published news on this, and I appreciate it immensely.

[Judith Anne]

Thank you. We certainly hear next to nothing from the American press on this.

[nicolezmomma]

http://www.angolapress-angop.ao/noticia-e.asp?ID=340045

Bie: Soldiers To Attend Seminar On Marburg Fever

Kuito, 09/05 - Soldiers operating in Kuito city, Central Bie Province, will participate Tuesday in a talk on Marburg haemorrhagic fever, a sickness which has already killed over 260 people, most of them in Bie, Angop has learnt.

A press note delivered to Angop says that the talk is framed in the Nurse Week and aims to explain the soldiers on this sickness.

A commission to fight the illness has been created there, comprising members of national and foreign non-governmental organisations.

[Judith Anne]

Kuito, 09/05 - Soldiers operating in Kuito city, Central Bie Province, will participate Tuesday in a talk on Marburg haemorrhagic fever, a sickness which has already killed over 260 people, most of them in Bie, Angop has learnt.

Now, wait now. "...a sickness which has already killed over 260 people MOST OF THEM IN BIE..."??????

Okay, do we add these to the Uige province deaths, or what?

I'm totally dumbfounded...am I misreading this??????

[nicolezmomma]

http://allafrica.com/stories/200505091339.html Harare

ZIMBABWE is on alert to ensure that locals are safe from the Marburg virus, an Ebola-like haemorrhagic fever, currently ravaging Angola.

In an interview with The Herald, the Minister of Health and Child Welfare, Dr David Parirenyatwa, said there was no need for Zimbabweans to panic as the Government was in control of the situation.

Because of the large number of Angolans in the country and the close interaction between them and Zimbabweans, some people had expressed concerns that the Marburg virus could find its way into the country.

The haemorrhaging disease, which causes severe nose bleeding, has resulted in more than 240 deaths, most of them in the Angolan province of Uije.

The virus can kill a healthy person within a week from diarrhoea and vomiting followed by severe internal bleeding and so far there is no treatment for it.

Countries bordering Angola have since taken alert measures and Dr Parirenyatwa said despite the fact that Zimbabwe was not geographically close to Angola, the country had taken the necessary measures to protect the lives of its people. All passengers flying into the country, especially from Angola, were being screened first, said Dr Parirenyatwa.

An emergency committee, similar to the one put in place when the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) broke out in Asia, has been put in place.

"While we are saying our people are safe, if any case of the virus should be detected we are ready to deal with it.

"There is already in place an isolation unit at one of the country's hospitals just in case and we know what to do," he said.

Dr Parirenyatwa said the process of screening people coming into the country from Angola and linked countries would go on until the Marburg virus was under control in Angola. Meanwhile, people are urged to desist from travelling to Angola until the disease was under control.

"We are discouraging our people from travelling to Angola until the killer virus is put under control, especially Uije where the virus is most prevalent," said Dr Parirenyatwa. Marburg was first recognised in 1967 when outbreaks occurred simultaneously in laboratories in Marburg and Frankfurt, Germany and in Belgrade, Yugoslavia sickening a total of 37 people.

Those who became ill included laboratory workers, medical personnel and family members who cared for them.

Those who became ill included laboratory workers, medical personnel and family members who cared for them.

[nicolezmomma]

Now, wait now. "...a sickness which has already killed over 260 people MOST OF THEM IN BIE..."??????

Good catch Judith, that didn't even phase me. I was amazed that the military was being briefed, thought why this wasn't done before is beyond me and why it's being done now is signficant

[Judith Anne]

Bie province is a whole nother province from Uige province.

That's shocking.

[tdewey10]

I think it is a mistake in translation by Angop, look at the original portugese.

I still think something is going on in Bie though.

[Judith Anne]

All I have is nicolezmomma's link--do you have a link to the original language?

[Judith Anne]

I still think something is going on in Bie though.

And Luanda...

[null and void]

If the 260 Bié deaths are new reports, and not just an error, we're just about on the top curve, aren't we?

[united1000]

I was just getting ready to post this (see#390) when I realized you had already posted it.  I did notice they mentioned a death toll of 240 and had this comment (below) at the end of it. I'm curious, was it on the article when you read it?  The green monkey comment got me.

 

"..Those who became ill included laboratory workers, medical personnel and family members who cared for them.

The first people infected had been exposed to African green monkeys imported from Uganda or their tissues. (I am not sure if this remark is for this outbreak or one in the past - as nothing like this has ever been said)

Between 1998 123 people were killed in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo."

 

[united1000]

And I'll add that I just read the comment about the number at 260 and in Bie!! I must have skipped it. I hope that's a typo.

[unseen]

To those that wish to form a Bird Flu surveillance project thread...This story should scare you.....Marburg is scary but at the moment it pales to what is going on in Asia.


HONG KONG: More than 10,000 people, mostly children, have been suffereing from flu symptoms during an outbreak in southern China during the weeklong Labor Day holiday according to media reports.

The victims had symptoms including runny noses, cough and fever.

More than half of the 10,000 people who contracted the virus were children, the report said, adding that a hospital in the city of Shenzhen had to set up temporary beds to accommodate nearly 700 children admitted daily during last week's holiday.

A man surnamed Shen who answered the phone at Shenzhen's health department said he didn't have information on the outbreak.

Asian countries are vigilant about flu outbreaks amid warnings that bird flu could mutate and become easily transmissible among humans, sparking a pandemic that could kill millions.

Bird flu has killed 52 people in Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia since it began ravaging poultry farms across Asia in late 2003, but there have been no signs of human-to-human transmission so far.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1102486.cms

I like the last paragraph the best. When have you heard of 10,000 people getting the flu in the same week? The case for human-to-human transmission is made in this article and the MSM ignore the facts and just report what the government says. Just proves that reporters are among the dumbest people on the earth.

[united1000]

Good article. There is a Flu thread you should post this there too. It was started today. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1399613/posts?page=17#17