TWO passengers suspected of being infected with the deadly and highly contagious Marburg virus were successfully evacuated by officers at the Hamburg train station, Germany on Wednesday afternoon (2/10).
Emergency responders in full protective gear boarded the train from Frankfurt after receiving news that a 26-year-old medical student and his girlfriend were experiencing flu-like symptoms on board the train.
In order to prevent transmission of the virus, all passengers were evacuated and police closed two lanes at the station for several hours before reopening them.
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Reporting from politicoAccording to emergency responders, one of the two victims suspected to have died in Marburg also experienced mild vomiting.
“He then called the fire service because he suspected something was wrong,” a spokesperson told local media (Die Welt) some time ago.
Reported by Tabloid Bild, the student arrived by plane directly from Rwanda, where he came into contact with a patient who was later diagnosed as infected with the Marburg virus.
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The country of Rwanda is currently being hit by an outbreak of this deadly virus. According to the country’s Health Ministry, eight people have died from the virus since last Sunday, while 26 cases have been confirmed.
The Marburg virus causes fever with symptoms such as convulsions, bloody vomiting and diarrhea, and has a mortality rate of up to 88%, according to the World Health Organization. People become infected through contact with victims’ bodily fluids.
After being evacuated, the student and his girlfriend were taken to Eppendorf University Hospital, which specializes in tropical diseases.
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Based on information provided by the Hamburg Social Department, these two passengers, after intensive examination, were declared negative for the Marburg virus.
“The person, who worked at a hospital in Rwanda as part of their medical studies, tested negative for Marburg virus using a PCR test. “They have never had any complaints or symptoms related to the disease,” a statement from the Hamburg Social Department was quoted as saying politico.
Even though they tested negative, the two people will continue to be monitored until the end of the 21-day incubation period. He also added that there were no harmful effects on other passengers on the train at that time
“There was no danger to other passengers on the train or plane at the time,” said a statement from Hamburg’s Social Affairs Department.
Although the situation in Hamburg ultimately did not indicate transmission of the Marburg virus, local and international health agencies must remain vigilant as this deadly outbreak develops in Rwanda. (Z-10)
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