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Marburg Virus Outbreak

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photoThe death toll is now at least 214 in the lethal outbreak of the Marburg virus in Angola. A grim cousin of the Ebola virus, Marburg causes massive bloody hemorrhaging and quickly kills 90 percent of those infected.

The Marburg virus spreads through the slightest contact with a victim's bodily fluids — even after death — making local treatments and burial traditions dangerous.

Terrified people at the center of the hot zone in Angola have become fearful of and are throwing stones at health workers in protective moon suits who take away victims, who are rarely seen alive again.

In a world of global travel and rapid mobility, where oceans are crossed in hours, Angola's problem is hardly Angola's problem alone.

Hear about the deadly new outbreak of Marburg virus, the Ebola-style, hot zone killer that is still not under control.

Guests:

Denise Grady, correspondent, New York Times

Dave Daigle, spokesmen for the World Health Organization in Angola

Pierre Rollin, Chief of Pathogenesis, Special Pathogens Branch at the Center for Disease Control

Dan Bausch, Professor of Tropical Medicine at Tulane University.

This program aired on April 13, 2005.

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