KAMPALA, 9 August 2007 (IRIN) - The outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus in Uganda's western Kamwenge District has been contained, but the country will maintain active surveillance for several more weeks, authorities said.

"Today is 25 days since the last contact with the case of the last Marburg patient, who was buried on 14 July 2007 in Luwero District," said Health Minister Steven Malinga. "This is more than the maximum incubation period of 21 days for the Marburg virus infection. There have been no more Marburg cases in the country over that period."

He added: "Theoretically, the transmission chain has been broken, the transmission has been stopped and the outbreak contained. However, we have decided, as a precautionary measure, to maintain active surveillance, case management, infections control and social mobilisation activities for an additional 21 days."

Two miners were diagnosed with the fast spreading Ebola-like haemorrhagic fever, close to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

One patient died and about 40 other people working at Kitaka gold mine were quarantined. Malinga said 155 people – 97 in the capital Kampala – were checked as potential contacts with the victims.

Although the danger period is now over, the health ministry has urged local people to report any suspicious cases of blood haemorrhaging from the body.

Authorities suspect the source of the disease was either bats, or a colobus monkey believed to have been skinned by the two people who fell sick. The Kamwenge area, where the cases were reported, also has many birds, another suspected vector.

Early symptoms of Marburg are diarrhoea, stomach pains, nausea and vomiting, which give way to bleeding. It is spread by the transfer of blood or other bodily fluids.

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