Anne Mugisa
15 July 2008
Kampala — THE guide who assisted the Dutch tourist who died of Marburg after visiting Maramagambo forest did not get in touch with the bats suspected to carry the deadly virus, according to the Ministry of Health.
The director general of health services, Dr. Sam Zaramba, yesterday said the guide was not in danger.
According to Zaramba, the only person who was affected was the female tourist who was hit by a fruit bat in the cave in the forest.
He explained that the bat could have scratched the Dutch tourist and introduced the virus into her body fluids.
The woman, whose three-week trip ended on June 28, suffered from fever and chills, four days after getting to Netherlands. She was admitted to Leiden University Medical Centre on July 2 where she died on July 11.
Marburg fever is a severe haemorrhagic illness characterised by sore throat, skin rush and rush in the mouth. It is spread through contact with infected body fluids, like blood, saliva, urine and stool, from animals and humans.
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