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Kitum Cave: Story of a Cave in Mount Elgon National Park that Harbours Deadly Virus

 

File image of the entrance of Kitum cave

Kitum Cave, situated in Mount Elgon National Park in Kenya, gained notoriety after two visitors contracted the deadly Marburg virus and subsequently died. 

Research indicates that the virus thrives in caves and mines where animals like Rousettus colony bats leave traces of their presence. 

Humans exposed to such environments for extended periods may contract the virus, as was the case with the French nationals—a man who died in 1980 and a boy in 1987—shortly after visiting Kitum Cave.

These two deaths prompted investigations, including a visit from the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Disease (USAMRIID) to ascertain the cause of the fatalities. 

Surprisingly, the research did not find any signs of the Marburg virus at the time, leading to a discrepancy with earlier reports attributing the deaths to the virus.

Despite these mixed findings, Kitum Cave remains one of the most dangerous caves worldwide due to its potential to harbor the Marburg virus. 

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According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Marburg virus is a severe and often fatal illness that can spread from bats and through close human contact. 

Initial symptoms of the virus during the incubation period of two to nine days include headache, chills, and fever, but the virus is not transmissible at this stage.

Once fully manifested, the virus can cause severe symptoms such as a rash on the chest and back, jaundice, hemorrhaging, significant weight loss, and even multi-organ failure. 

Recent cases have been reported in South Africa, as well as in other areas such as Angola, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the virus poses a continuing health risk.
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