Nine dead in new outbreak of ‘eye-bleeding’ virus

Nine people have d!ed in a new outbreak of an ‘eye-bleeding’ Ebola-like virus, global health chiefs have warned.

Marburg, one of the deadliest pathogens ever discovered, has already infected ten people in the African nation of Tanzania since the country officially announced the outbreak last week.

Of these infections nine have died Africa’s health agency has announced — reflecting the virus’s 90 per cent mortality rate.

The cases were reported in the Kagera region of Tanzania. The area is located in the northwest of the country and has a population of nearly three million.

But because the country’s main international airport in the capital Dar es Salaam is easily accessible by train, experts are worried the disease could spread further, The Sun reported.

Ngashi Ngongo, from Africa Centre for Disease Control Centre (CDC), told an online briefing they are doing everything they can with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to limit the toll of the outbreak.

Authorities have identified ‘about 281 contacts’ of the 10 cases, which are being closely monitored for infections.

‘There have been a total of 31 tests that have been conducted, two confirmed, and 29 I think, that are negative,’ Ngongo said.

There are currently no vaccines or treatments available meaning medics are forced to focus on helping patients survive the infection.

This often puts health workers at direct risk of the virus, which can cause people to bleed from their eyes.