New Delhi: The World Health Organization has said that one case of Marburg virus disease, or MVD, has been reported from West Africa. The infected person succumbed to the virus. Like Ebola, Marburg virus is a highly contagious hemorrhagic fever.
According to the WHO, the virus is carried by a fruit-eating bat called the Russetus bat. Previously, cases of MVD were reported in humans who had prolonged exposure to caves or mines where these bats lived.
Read also: First case of deadly Marburg virus detected in West Africa, what we know so far
Marburg History and Broadcasting
Both Marburg and Ebola viruses are members of the Filoviridae family (Filoviruses). MVD originated in 1967 after simultaneous outbreaks in Marburg and Frankfurt, Germany, and Belgrade, Serbia. These outbreaks were linked to laboratory work using African green monkeys imported from Uganda.
Rousetus bats are the natural hosts of Marburg virus, even though the source in the first outbreak was green monkeys. Pigs are susceptible to filovirus infection, so they are also considered to be proliferative hosts of MVD.
Symptoms of Marburg
A person can start showing symptoms anywhere between two and 21 days, and they can start with a sudden and high fever, severe headache, and malaise. This is followed by symptoms such as severe muscle pain, abdominal cramps, watery diarrhea and vomiting. During this period, the WHO says, the patient has a “ghost-like” appearance due to dark eyes and extreme lethargy.
Severe hemorrhagic symptoms appear between 5 and 7 days, with patients experiencing some form of bleeding, often from multiple areas. In addition to fresh blood in the vomit and stool, the patient may also bleed from the gums, nose, and even the vagina. In the later stages of the disease, swelling of both testicles has also been reported.
Due to involvement of the central nervous system or CNS, the patient may become confused, irritable or even aggressive. Death is most often reported usually between 8 and 9 days after the onset of symptoms.
diagnosis and treatment
According to the WHO, these diagnostic methods can be used because symptoms can be confused with diseases such as malaria and typhoid.
- Antibody-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
- Antigen-Capture Detection Test
- Serum Neutralization Test
- Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay
- electron microscopy
- Virus isolation by cell culture
Currently, there are no vaccines for the virus, but supportive care such as rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids or treatment of specific symptoms may improve the chances of survival.
prevention of marburg
- People visiting or working in caves/mines should wear gloves and other protective gear.
- Persons caring for patients should have PPE and avoid contact with any bodily fluids. It is recommended by WHO that regular hand washing with soap and water is essential when caring for or visiting patients.
- The deceased should be given a dignified and proper funeral and those who came in contact with the patient should be monitored for 21 days.
- Male survivors should test their semen twice for a negative result 12 months after the onset of symptoms.
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