Suspected case of the Marburg virus

 

Hamburg
Suspected dengue fever closed parts of central Hamburg

Alex Rodriguez

Updated 18.23 | Published 17.44

The Marburg virus. Photo: Alamy Stock Photo

A man on a train in Hamburg caused great concern when he was suspected of being infected with the deadly Marburg virus.
The man was taken urgently to hospital and the police will now investigate whether people the man came into contact with may have been infected.

Several platforms at the central station were closed for several hours on Wednesday, Bild reports.

The man is a 26-year-old German medical student who has just flown in from Rwanda, where there is an ongoing outbreak of the virus. During the train journey, he experienced flu symptoms, and was therefore immediately taken to hospital in a special infection rescue vehicle.

The man's girlfriend, who was traveling with him, was also taken to hospital. The couple's luggage was also confiscated, writes Bild.

According to the newspaper, there were around 200 passengers on the train. The police will now map who has had contact with the presumably infected people.

Ten dead - restrictions are introduced

In Rwanda's virus outbreak, 29 people have been confirmed infected with the virus, according to the country's health ministry. Ten people have died. Recently introduced restrictions on the number of visitors to funerals in the country, with the aim of reducing the risk of further infection, according to the BBC.

Marburg is a virus similar to Ebola and has a fatality rate of up to 90 percent. The disease can cause high fever, severe headache and nausea. The infected may also begin to bleed in the skin and internal organs. Person-to-person transmission is possible through contact with body fluids.

Approved vaccines and medicines are missing.

Hamburg Central Station. Archive image.