Marburg Fever in Colorado, We never knew

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

   This is  what bugs me about the government here is a story that makes the news over a year later, just like the SARS we had in the USA never made the news until it was over and done with. Is there any reason to believe when we read this that they would tell us of ANY disease???

1st US case of Marburg fever confirmed in Colo. 
AP

posted: 8 HOURS 20 MINUTES AGO
comments: 4

PrintShare
Text SizeAAA
switchFont(1,"smallText");

WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. -The first U.S. case of Marburg hemorrhagic fever has been confirmed in Colorado, and authorities say the patient — who contracted the rare illness while traveling in Uganda — has since recovered.
The disease, caused by a virus indigenous to Africa, spreads through contact with infected animals or the bodily fluids of infected humans. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention spokesman Dave Daigle said no previous cases have been reported in the United States.
The patient had traveled to Uganda, visited a python cave in Maramagambo Forest in Queen Elizabeth Park and encountered fruit bats, which can carry the Marburg virus. The Ugandan government closed the cave after a tourist from the Netherlands died from Marburg in July.
The patient was treated at Lutheran Medical Center in January 2008 and sought follow-up care in July, after learning of the tourist's death. The patient recovered and his or her identity wasn't disclosed.
Pierre Rollin, acting chief of the Special Pathogens Branch of the CDC, said specialized tests of the initial sample taken in January 2008 confirmed the illness in the Colorado patient in December.
CDC officials said identifying the virus and how a patient contracted it can be difficult. It often depends on the quality of the sample being tested and the timing; samples taken early in the patient's illness makes identification easier, Rollin said.
Marburg hemorrhagic fever is extremely rare. The CDC's Web site counts fewer than 500 confirmed cases since the virus was first recognized in 1967. More than 80 percent of the known cases are fatal.
It has an incubation period of 5 to 10 days. The first symptoms are fever, chills and headaches, but symptoms worsen significantly after the fifth day of illness.
Lutheran hospital spokeswoman Kim Kobel said none of the staff and physicians who cared for the patient has developed symptoms.
Rollin said the CDC is testing hospital staff to see if any illnesses were undetected at the time.
—
Information from: Rocky Mountain News, http://www.rockymountainnews.com/
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
2009-02-07 18:14:15

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
abcdefg Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Valued Member Joined: September 19 2008 Status: Offline Points: 578	Post Options Post Reply Quote abcdefg Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Marburg Fever in Colorado, We never knew Posted: February 07 2009 at 11:41pm
	This is what bugs me about the government here is a story that makes the news over a year later, just like the SARS we had in the USA never made the news until it was over and done with. Is there any reason to believe when we read this that they would tell us of ANY disease??? 1st US case of Marburg fever confirmed in Colo. AP posted: 8 HOURS 20 MINUTES AGO comments: 4 PrintShare Text SizeAAA switchFont(1,"smallText"); WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. -The first U.S. case of Marburg hemorrhagic fever has been confirmed in Colorado, and authorities say the patient — who contracted the rare illness while traveling in Uganda — has since recovered. The disease, caused by a virus indigenous to Africa, spreads through contact with infected animals or the bodily fluids of infected humans. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention spokesman Dave Daigle said no previous cases have been reported in the United States. The patient had traveled to Uganda, visited a python cave in Maramagambo Forest in Queen Elizabeth Park and encountered fruit bats, which can carry the Marburg virus. The Ugandan government closed the cave after a tourist from the Netherlands died from Marburg in July. The patient was treated at Lutheran Medical Center in January 2008 and sought follow-up care in July, after learning of the tourist's death. The patient recovered and his or her identity wasn't disclosed. Pierre Rollin, acting chief of the Special Pathogens Branch of the CDC, said specialized tests of the initial sample taken in January 2008 confirmed the illness in the Colorado patient in December. CDC officials said identifying the virus and how a patient contracted it can be difficult. It often depends on the quality of the sample being tested and the timing; samples taken early in the patient's illness makes identification easier, Rollin said. Marburg hemorrhagic fever is extremely rare. The CDC's Web site counts fewer than 500 confirmed cases since the virus was first recognized in 1967. More than 80 percent of the known cases are fatal. It has an incubation period of 5 to 10 days. The first symptoms are fever, chills and headaches, but symptoms worsen significantly after the fifth day of illness. Lutheran hospital spokeswoman Kim Kobel said none of the staff and physicians who cared for the patient has developed symptoms. Rollin said the CDC is testing hospital staff to see if any illnesses were undetected at the time. — Information from: Rocky Mountain News, http://www.rockymountainnews.com/ Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. 2009-02-07 18:14:15