Kampala , Uganda ( CNN ) -- Uganda has been declared free of Marburg , an Ebola-like viral hemorrhagic fever , the World Health Organization said . The declaration by the United Nations health agency comes after a 42-day surveillance period since the death of a health worker who contracted the virus . This included a period of isolation for those with whom he had come in contact . The declaration also comes as the East African nation begins hosting the 39th Africa Travel Association World Congress , which has attracted more than 400 travel and tourism companies from the United States and Europe . `` So with the WHO 's procedures , two cycles of incubation period [ totaling ] 42 days is over then we congratulate the Ministry of Health and the government of Uganda for the wonderful job of containing it , '' declared WHO Country Representative Wondimagegnehu Alemu . However , noting that the deadly epidemic of Ebola in West Africa continues , Alemu said `` the threat is not over yet . '' Uganda declared the outbreak of the second Marburg epidemic following laboratory tests confirming that one health worker , a 30-year-old male radiographer , had died of the hemorrhagic fever at a Kampala hospital on September 28 . During the outbreak , 197 people -- mainly relatives of the deceased health worker and colleagues who were in contact with him -- were placed in isolation . Eight of them developed symptoms similar to Marburg , but they tested negative for the viral hemorrhagic fever . Uganda 's minister for primary health care issued a warning for people to reduce contact with wild animals , especially fruit bats , and urged health workers to wear gloves and appropriate protective equipment when taking care of ill patients . Marburg virus was first identified in 1967 , when 31 people became sick in Germany and Yugoslavia in an outbreak that was eventually traced back to laboratory monkeys imported from Uganda . Since then the virus has appeared sporadically , with just a dozen outbreaks on record . Many of those involved only one diagnosed case . Uganda in 2012 endured an outbreak of Marburg that killed nine of the 18 people infected , according to the Ministry of Health . Marburg virus causes symptoms similar to Ebola , beginning with fever and weakness and often leading to internal or external bleeding , organ failure and death . The death rate has run as high as 80 % , although it was significantly lower in the initial outbreak when patients were cared for in relatively modern , European hospitals .
WHO representative : ` ` two weeks of incubation period '' , 100 days have passed . A health worker died of the Ebola - like viral hemorrhagic fever on September 11 . 197 people were placed in hospitals ; none came down with Marburg . An outbreak of malaria occurred in 2012 , killing nine of the 18 people infected .