Paris - Scientists reported on Wednesday that they had finally fingered the culprit in the spread of Marburg virus, a singularly lethal disease that has baffled virologists for nearly four decades: the African fruit bat.

The researchers from Gabon and the United States examined over 1 100 bats from ten species, but detected the virus' RNA genome and antibodies only in Rousettus aegyptiacus, a common fruit bat found all across sub-Saharan Africa.

Marburg and its deadly cousin Ebola virus have caused large outbreaks with extremely high fatality rates - 80 to 90% - in humans and great apes.

No vaccine or drug therapy has proven effective in warding off or curing the disease, which causes horrendous symptoms including internal bleeding, high fevers, coma and renal failure.

Death from shock usually occurs a week after clinical onset of symptoms.

The world's biggest outbreak of Marburg occurred in Angola from October 2004 to July 2005, infecting 374 people, 329 of whom died, according to an official toll.

One step closer

The study reports finding viral RNA in four of 283 R aegyptiacus bats collected in Gabon and the Republic of Congo in 2005 and 2006. Another 29 bats of the same species tested serologically positive for Marburg, showing traces of antibodies providing immunity against the virus.

Neither Marburg-virus RNA nor specific antibodies were detected in any of the other species of bats tested, according to the study, published in the online science journal PLoS ONE.

"Identifying Marburg infection in the African fruit bats brings us one step closer to understanding this deadly disease," said one of the study's authors, Eric Leroy of the Centre International de Recherches Medicales de Franceville in Gabon.

Scientists had been trying to pinpoint the "natural reservoir" of the virus ever since the initial outbreak among laboratory workers in Germany 40 years ago.

Bats became likely culprits after the recent discovery of the related Ebola virus in fruit bats in Gabon and the Republic of Congo, and an outbreak of Marburg hemorrhagic fever in a gold mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo containing a large number of the nocturnal flying mammals.

The fruit bats that tested positive for the disease are the first naturally-infected non-primates ever identified, the paper said.

It is also the first report of Marburg in this area of Africa, suggesting that the risk of further outbreaks may be higher than previously thought.

(Courtesy of www.news24.com)

It's been a LONG time since I've added an entry. Life has been hectic and that's the main reason why!
I had a great holiday - I spent most of it in front of the TV having fun on the Playstation. It truly is addicitve, and I can understand why so many kids have become couch potatoes as a result!

I started with Medicine at Baragwanath 3 weeks ago. It is unbelievably busy, but very educational. I am also enjoying this experience. I've seen a lot of HIV positive people dying from AIDS these past few weeks. It is good to know the government has finally started doing something about the crisis in our country.

I worked the night the student was raped at Bara, and even though I don't know her personally, I sympathise with her. It shouldn't matter whether she was a student, cleaner, nurse, consultant or patient - things like this shouldn't happen in a hospital. She was serving this community, and the community stabbed her in the back. It's wrong and upsetting.

The scary thing is that not more than 6 months ago, I too was walking the same path from the gynae department to the bloodbank, at 2am in the morning for that matter. Nobody from the hospital, nor the university ever said to us "take your own car" - besides, they could just as easy hijack your vehicle! As for the statement that it is not a medical student's obligation to do so. Well, no single member of my class would be that stupid to refuse a request like this. Why you may ask, because we get ward marks, which are determined in part, by your willingness to help out with tasks like this. Quite often your ward mark is the difference between a pass & a fail for some, and for others between a first and second pass.

Nevertheless, it is good to see the hospital finally taking some action towards a safer work environment. Who knows, I may end up there for my internship, so let us hope it's a safer place from next year.

That's right, our internship forms have finally arrived. Sadly the department of health has imposed so many strict regulations that I'm not even sure I'll get a post in South Africa (nevermind Gauteng)

Internship is a tough enough period without being separated from your family and loved ones.

Speaking of which, Tuesday is my 2nd anniversary with my honey! We're signing our pre-nup this week if all goes well!