Marburg Virus

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

The first two cases of the Marburg virus, a highly infectious Ebola-like disease, have been confirmed officially by Ghana after test results were verified by a Senegal laboratory.

Marburg Virus Disease

• Marburg virus disease (MVD), formerly known as Marburg hemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness in humans causing viral hemorrhagic fever.
• Rousettus Aegyptiacus, fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family, are considered to be natural hosts of Marburg virus and is transmitted to people through contact with materials (fluids, blood, tissues and cells) of an infected host or reservoir or infected person.
• Human MVD infection results from prolonged exposure to mines or caves inhabited by Rousettus bat colonies.
• Burial ceremonies that involve direct contact with the body of the deceased can also contribute in the transmission of Marburg.
• People remain infectious as long as their blood contains the virus.

Symptoms

• Incubation period (interval from infection to onset of symptoms) varies from 2 to 21 day
• High fever, severe headache and severe malaise.
• Severe watery diarrhea (can last for a week).
• Abdominal pain and cramping.
• Nausea and vomiting can begin on the third day.
• Non-itchy rash in most patients between 2 and 7 days after onset of symptoms.
• Hemorrhagic manifestations between 5 and 7 days with fatal cases usually have some form of bleeding, often from multiple areas.

Transmission:

• Once an individual is infected with the virus, Marburg can spread through human-to-human transmission via direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials (e.g. bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids.

Treatment

• There is no approved antiviral treatment or vaccine for MVD as of now.
• It can be managed with supportive care.
• According to the WHO, rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids and treatment of specific symptoms can help prevent death.