Marburg virus, what you need to know about this deadly disease

Marburg virus, what you need to know about this deadly disease

One of the most dangerous viruses on earth has knocked on Kenya’s door and the government is currently investigating four cases in Trans Nzoia county.

Information has it that the four people, currently quarantined, came from Uganda, where there is a full blown outbreak with one fatality confirmed in Kweene District.

According to the World Health Organisation, Marburg virus disease (MVD) is a severe and highly fatal disease caused by the Marburg virus from Filoviridae family; the same family of the Ebola virus. It has a fatality ratio of up to 88%.

The Marburg virus causes severe viral hemorrhagic fever in humans, a reason why MDV was also known as Marburg haemorrhagic fever.

Origin

The disease gets its name from the town of Marburg, Germany where it was first reported in 1967.

The outbreak was associated with laboratory work using African green monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) imported from Uganda.

Subsequently, outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, South Africa (in a person with recent travel history to Zimbabwe) and Uganda. In 2008, two independent cases were reported in travelers who had visited a cave inhabited by Rousettus bat colonies in Uganda.

Transmission

Marburg spreads through human-to-human transmission via direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, sex, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials (e.g. bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids. Monkeys and fruit bats are the main sources of the disease.

People remain infectious as long as their blood contains the virus. Marburg virus transmission via infected semen has been documented up to seven weeks after clinical recovery.

Symptoms

Being among the most virulent pathogens known, it has 2 to 21 days of incubation period (day between infection and when symptoms start showing).

Marburg has Ebola-like symptoms which include high fever, severe headache, malaise, muscle pains, bleeding, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, abdominal pain and cramping and myalgia.

Persons infected may start to showcase deep-set eyes, expressionless faces and extreme lack of energy.

Treatment and vaccines

There is as yet no proven treatment available for MVD. Supportive care – rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids – and treatment of specific symptoms, improves survival. However, a range of potential treatments including blood products, immune therapies and drug therapies are currently being evaluated.

Prevention and Control

All the process involved in prevention and control of Ebola is the same taken when controlling Marburg.

Good outbreak control relies on applying a package of interventions, namely case management, surveillance and contact tracing, a good laboratory service, safe and dignified burials, and social mobilisation.

SOURCE: WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION

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