First U.S. Case of Marburg Fever Confirmed: CDC

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The first confirmed case of deadly Marburg hemorrhagic fever in the United States occurred last year and the patient has since recovered, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

The Colorado patient contracted the dangerous, rare illness while traveling in Uganda and was treated at Lutheran Medical Center in January 2008 and had follow-up care in July, the Associated Press reported.

None of the doctors and staffers who cared for the patient developed symptoms of Marburg hemorrhagic fever, said medical center spokeswoman Kim Kobel. The CDC is testing hospital staff to determine if any cases of illness weren't detected at the time.

Marburg fever spreads through contact with infected animals or the bodily fluids of infected humans. The disease has an incubation period of five to 10 days. Initial symptoms include fever, chills and headaches, but symptoms become much worse after the fifth day of illness, the AP said.

Fewer than 500 cases of the disease, which has an 80 percent death rate, have been reported since it was first recognized in 1967, according to the CDC. The Marburg virus is indigenous to Africa.