Richard Preston wrote THE HOT ZONE back in 1994.

In it, he mentions the then-little-known viruses known as Ebola and Marburg.  Ebola got all the press; Marburg didn’t.

Marburg is now back “in the news,” in a way you didn’t wish.  From YahooNews:

Man dies from Ebola-like Marburg virus in Uganda

Kampala (AFP) – A hospital technician has died of the Ebola-like Marburg virus in Kampala, the Ugandan government announced on Sunday

The man, aged 30, died in the Mengo hospital where he worked in the capital of the east African country on September 28, 11 days after falling ill, the authorities said. 

Tests confirmed the presence of the disease two days later. 

The Marburg virus is one of the most deadly known pathogens. Like Ebola, it causes severe bleeding, fever, vomiting and diarrhoea. 

The victim’s brother and one other person he was in contact with have so far “developed signs” of the disease, the ministry of health said in a statement. 

But here is the paragraph of note:

“So far, a total of 80 people who got into contact with the initial confirmed case have been identified and isolated” for the 21-day incubation period, it added. 

R2 indeed?  Now, R=80?

“These include 38 health workers from Mengo hospital and 22 health workers from Mpigi Health Center IV.”

Like Ebola, the Marburg virus is transmitted via contact with bodily fluids and fatality rates range from 25 percent to 80 percent.

From apparently only one Index Case?

Ebola vs Marburg?

The Mayo Clinic delineates the symptoms of both Marburg and Ebola here.

Ebola and Marburg disease manual here.

Marburg virus described here.

As if we needed any more complications.

Heads up.

I don’t write this for my own comfort.

Clearly.

BZ