Ebola-Like Virus Deaths Climb in Angola

The death toll from an Ebola-like virus in Angola rose to 119 on Saturday, with two deaths reported in the capitol of Luanda for the first time.

More than three-quarters of the victims are children younger than five, but the latest deaths include two Italian and Vietnamese doctors, according to wire reports.

Health officials said they have reports of 123 cases of Marburg disease, a severe hemorrhagic fever that is closely related to the more-publicized Ebola virus.

Five nurses have died in recent weeks from the virus, which is transmitted through contact with bodily fluids and has no cure.

The health officials said all five patients in Luanda had come from Uige, the northern province along the Congo border where the outbreak was first reported less than six months ago. Officials feared the patients could have come into contact with more people in Luanda.

Provided by ArmMed Media
Revision date: July 6, 2011
Last revised: by Sebastian Scheller, MD, ScD