Members of the Angolan decontamination team hose themselves down after disinfecting the homes of the dead.

Angola is struggling to contain the spread of a deadly virus. The country’s health system is in disarray after nearly 30 years of civil war. Nothing short of a major international effort will stop the spread of the disease.

The Marburg Virus

The Marburg virus destroys clotting agents in the blood by infecting and breaking down tissue in internal organs. Although extremely rare, Marburg is very contagious and has the capacity to cause many deaths.

Over the past six months, at least 325 people in Angola have died from the Marburg virus. Many of the victims were young children, women and medical staff. Most lived in the northern Angolan province of Uige. The disease has also spread to three other Angolan provinces, as well as the capital city of Luanda.

What World Vision is Doing to Help

World Vision has donated $125,000 to Angola’s Ministry of Health. To assist with the shortage of urgently needed medical supplies, World Vision has provided:

• 1,000 gowns
• 38,500 disposable gloves
• 5,000 hats and masks
• 200 litres of basic disinfectant
• 32 bicycles, which will allow health activists to go into communities and educate others about the virus.

World Vision has extensive programs in the neighbouring province of Huambo and has assisted health officials there to identify and educate at-risk communities and to prepare health facilities should an outbreak occur.

More About the Virus

The Marburg virus spreads from person to person through contact with contaminated body fluids or objects. Spread of the disease usually occurs in settings of close contact. Currently there is no cure or vaccine; however, treating Marburg's symptoms can increase chances of survival.

Symptoms include:

High fever Vomiting Diarrhea Severe headaches Uncontrollable bleeding

Stomach and body pain Low blood pressure Difficulty breathing Loss of bodily fluids

The virus can kill within eight or nine days of the onset of symptoms.

By Nicolette Beharie, a writer based in Brampton, Ontario