ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) -The death toll from a Marburg virus outbreak in Ethiopia has risen to six, state-run news agency reported on Wednesday.
Ethiopia first confirmed the outbreak on November 14, with three deaths being reported three days later.
“Out of the 11 people in whom the virus was detected, six have died, and five are receiving medical treatment,” Ethiopian Press Agency said on its Facebook page, citing a statement from the health ministry.
The ministry has said 349 people who were suspected of having contact with infected individuals were isolated, and 119 of them have been released after completing their surveillance.
Marburg, from the same virus family as Ebola, often presents with severe headaches and leads to haemorrhaging.
Previous outbreaks in Africa have resulted in fatality rates as high as 80% or more, typically within eight to nine days of the onset of symptoms.
(Reporting by Dawit Endeshaw; Editing by George Obulutsa and Alex Richardson)
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