Warnings as ‘bleeding eye fever’ feared to be ‘deadlier than Black Death’ spreads

 An outbreak of ‘bleeding eye fever’ which experts fear could be deadlier than last year’s African plague outbreak has killed three and may have infected dozens, new reports suggest.The outbreak comes after ten African countries were put on alert for signs of the plague after an outbreak in Madagascar last year – caused by the microbe which wiped out 50 million in Europe during the Black Death. Health experts are now monitoring the outbreak of a mystery viral haemorrhagic fever in Uganda ,after a nine-year-old girl died. Another outbreak is also being monitored in South Sudan – with three already having died in Eastern Lakes State. Up to 60 people are now being tested by experts from the Sudanese health ministry and the World Health Organisation. Early reports suggested that the mystery illness might be Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, which is fatal in up to 40% of cases.  

Local district Health Officer Dr Badru Sesimba said that blood tests from the nine-year-old girl had been sent to the Uganda Virus Research Institute. The girl’s body will be buried by health teams due to ‘sensitivity’ about potential infection.The World Health Organisation continues to monitor the situation in Sudan, says Dr Argata Guracha, the Officer in Charge for WHO South Sudan. The World Health Organisation is testing samples from people who may have been exposed. Haemorrhagic illness can be caused by a wide range of diseases – including Rift Valley Fever, Crimean- Congo hemorrhagic fever, dengue, as well as Lassa fever and Marburg.