Media Home
UN Web TV
UN Audiovisual Library
UN PhotoUnifeed
ANGOLA MARBURG
Download
There is no media available to download.
STORY: ANGOLA MARBURG
TRT: 3.10
SOURCE: IRIN
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: CH1 ENGLISH/ PORTUGUESE / NATS
CH 2 ENGLISH/ PORTUGUESE / NATS
DATELINE: 3 MAY 2005, UIGE, ANGOLA
1. Various shots, Uige town
2. Med shot, vehicle MSF with staff on board in protection suits
3. Various shots, isolation ward MSF in Uige
4. Med shot, WHO staff in protection suits who get baby who died of Marburg from maternity ward
5. Close up, prevention sign
6. Wide shot, outside of clinic
7. Med shot, mother crouched on ground crying
8. Various shots, staff in protection suits place baby in body bag, then in coffin
9. SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Ivo do Rosaro, nurse isolation ward:
"We do this work. We know it is very dangerous. We do this to help the Angolan population. When we do the work we put that protection. We know with that protection we are safe"
10. Med shot, Pierre Formenty, WHO operations co-coordinator in Uige
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Pierre Formenty, WHO operations co-coordinator in Uige:
"It seems now, if we talk about numbers per week. We are beginning to see the decrease of the epicurve. We had fewer cases last week compared to the week before, and the week before. The peak was apparently three weeks ago. Unfortunately, we do not have to play down our goal. We still have to continue to work hard. Because with only one case you could have again a big epidemic".
12. Wide shot, citizen of Uige
13. SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Citizen of Uige:
"Many people died already Of Marburg and many know the disease is still around. I am also afraid, and also my mother is sick".
14. Wide shot, stretcher being brought out
15. Med shot, mother crying
According to the latest report by the Angolan Health Ministry, the world's worst outbreak of the Ebola-like Marburg virus has so far claimed 277 lives in Angola. On Thursday (5 May), officials reported no new cases during a 24-hour period, they are hopeful the deadly virus can soon be brought under control.
The World Health Organization will not consider an outbreak to be contained unless no new infections have been reported for a duration lasting double the maximum incubation time.
SOUNDBITE (English) Pierre Formenty, WHO operations co-coordinator in Uige:
Pierre Formenty, WHO co-coordinator in Uige: ""It seems now, if we talk about numbers per week. We are beginning to see the decrease of the epicurve. We had fewer cases last week compared to the week before, and the week before. The peak was apparently three weeks ago. Unfortunately, we do not have to play down our goal. We still have to continue to work hard. Because with only one case you could have again a big epidemic".
Its exact origin is unknown and there is no cure. The virus spreads through contact with bodily fluids such as blood, excrement, vomit, saliva, sweat and tears, but can be contained with relatively simple hygienic precautions, according to experts.
The Marburg virus can kill a healthy person in a week, causing diarrhea and vomiting followed by severe internal bleeding. In the main hospital of Uige MSF Spain has set up an isolation ward, where there were three patients.
SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Ivo do Rosaro, nurse isolation ward:
Ivo do Rosario, nurse isolation ward:" "We do this work. We know it is very dangerous. We do this to help the Angolan population. When we do the work we put that protection. We know with that protection we are safe".
Outside the isolation unit a mother and their relatives are crying because her baby died of Marburg. Staffs in protection units are taking the baby from the maternity ward into a coffin. They put in some last belongings.
WHO and MSF developed a special procedure for burials and funerals. It is crucial that people do not get in touch with people who died of Marburg. The chances of infection are then the highest.
People in Uige speak out their fears for the virus.
SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Citizen of Uige:
Citizen of Uige:" Many people died already of Marburg, and many know the disease is still around. I am also afraid, and also my mother is sick".
Meanwhile vehicles with MSF staff in protection units roam the streets, looking for infected people.
The Marburg virus was discovered in 1967 when German laboratory workers in a town of the same name were infected by monkeys from Uganda.
Until now, the most serious outbreak of the disease was in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where 123 people died between 1998 and 2000.
