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Concerns rise over potential pandemic from Kenya’s deadly Kitum cave – ET HealthWorld

New Delhi: In the tranquil landscape of Mount Elgon National Park in Kenya, the seemingly innocuous Kitam Cave hides a dangerous secret that could potentially cause a global problem. health crisis, Dubbed the ‘most dangerous place on Earth’, this cave is a storehouse of deadly people. marburg virusknown to cause serious viral hemorrhagic fever In humans.

Kitam Cave’s notoriety lies in its grim history dating back to the 1980s, when two visitors became infected with Marburg virus within its confines and subsequently died. These events cast a long shadow over the cave, highlighting its potential as a source highly contagious disease, Marburg virus, similar to the dreaded Ebola virus, originates from Rousettus bats prevalent in such caves. It can spread to humans through close contact with infected bodily fluids, causing symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle pain, and severe internal bleeding.

Recent reports and expert warnings suggest that the environmental conditions within Kitum Cave may foster not only Marburg but also other deadly pathogens. The cave’s dark history and biological risks have raised fears that it could become the basis for a new pandemic. “This virus causes severe viral hemorrhagic fever, which was first identified in Marburg, Germany in 1967,” WHO reports, noting the wide geographic reach of previous outbreaks including Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Uganda Emphasis has been laid on. And South Africa.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is closely monitoring the situation, having previously issued an alert during the Marburg outbreak in 2023. many african countries, The mortality rate of more than 88 percent associated with the virus underlines the serious nature of its threat. Health advice emphasizes that importance of vigilance and preventive measures to stop the spread of this and other similar viruses.

As the world keeps a watchful eye on Kitam Cave, the possibility of another A tragic pandemic is loomingreminding global health officer and made the public aware of the ever-present threat that lurks in the natural reservoirs of deadly diseases.

  • Published on April 24, 2024 at 06:01 PM IST

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