WHO to meet over Marburg virus outbreak in E Guinea

The World Health Organization says it’s to hold an emergency meeting on the outbreak of the Marburg virus in Equatorial Guinea.

Nine people have died from the haemorrhagic fever, and there are a further 16 suspected cases in the eastern Kie Ntem province, where the disease has never previously been recorded.

The deaths have been preliminarily linked to a funeral ceremony, with four of the victims – members of the same family.

The virus is believed to be transmitted to people from fruit bats and, like ebola, spreads between humans through the transmission of bodily fluids. BBC