March 30, 2005, 13:11 EST (01:11 2PM EST) CDCHAN-00225-05-03-30-UPD-N On March 23, 2005, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed Marburg virus (family Filoviridae, which includes Ebola virus) as the causative agent of an outbreak of viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) in Uige Province in northern Angola. Testing conducted by CDC’s Special Pathogens Branch detected the presence of virus in nine of 12 specimens from patients who died during the outbreak. According to WHO reports, a total of 124 cases (117 deaths) were identified during October 1, 2004–March 29, 2005. Approximately 75% of the reported cases occurred in children aged <5 years; cases also have occurred in adults, including health-care workers.

Health Alert Network (HAN)