MARBURG

Context:

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

History

• Marburg was first detected in 1967 after simultaneous outbreaks in Marburg and Frankfurt in Germany, Belgrade, and Serbia.
• This outbreak is only the second time that the disease has been detected in West Africa.
• As it was first detected in Marburg, it got its name.

Marburg

• As per WHO, Marburg Virus Disease (MVD), is a severe, often fatal hemorrhagic fever.
• Earlier it was known as Marburg hemorrhagic fever.
• Marburg, like Ebola, is a filovirus and both diseases are clinically similar.

Hosts

• Rousettus fruit bats are considered the natural hosts for the Marburg virus.
• According to WHO, African green monkeys imported from Uganda were the source of the first human infection.
• It was first detected in 1967 after simultaneous outbreaks in Marburg & Frankfurt in Germany, Belgrade Serbia.
• The disease has an average fatality rate of around 50%.
• It may be as low as 24% and as high as 88% depending on virus strain and case management.

Symptoms

• The onset of symptoms may begin anytime in between 2-21 days.
• MVD can manifest itself in the form of high fever, muscle aches and severe headaches.
• Around the 3^rd day, patients report abdominal pain, vomiting, severe watery diarrhoea and cramping.
• The appearance of patients is described as “ghost-like” with deep-set eyes, expressionless faces, and extreme lethargy.
• Between 5-7 days, patients report bleeding from the nose, gums and blood appearing in vomits and faeces.
• Severe blood loss leads to death, often between 8-9 days after symptoms begin.