Deadly Marburg Virus Cases Detected in Africa: What You Need to Know
An overview of the recent detection of Marburg virus cases in Africa, its symptoms, transmission, and the current state of treatment and prevention.
The Marburg virus, a lesser-known relative of Ebola, is a highly lethal pathogen with fatality rates reaching up to 88%. Currently, there are no approved treatments, vaccines, or antiviral drugs available to combat this virus.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported two suspected cases of Marburg virus disease (MVD) in Ghana, marking the first time this infection has been identified in the country.
Belonging to the Filoviridae family, the Marburg virus causes severe hemorrhagic fever similar to Ebola, with mortality rates averaging around 50%. Past outbreaks have shown fatality rates ranging from 24% to 88%, depending on the virus strain and the quality of medical care provided.
According to WHO, the two suspected cases emerged in the Ashanti region of southern Ghana. Patients were admitted to a local hospital exhibiting symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, nausea, and vomiting. They were unrelated individuals who unfortunately succumbed to the illness.
Preliminary laboratory tests on samples from these patients returned positive results for the Marburg virus. Following WHO protocols, these samples have been sent to the organization’s central reference laboratory in Senegal for confirmation.
Dr. Francis Kasolo, a WHO physician in Ghana, stated that contact tracing efforts have begun to monitor and control potential spread.
Prior to this, Marburg virus had only been detected once in West Africa. In late 2021, a farmer in Guinea died from the infection, but no further cases were reported after months of vigilant monitoring by WHO.
Primary human infection is believed to occur through prolonged exposure to mines or caves inhabited by Rousettus fruit bats, which serve as natural reservoirs for the virus.
The virus spreads through direct physical contact with the blood, secretions, or other bodily fluids of infected individuals, particularly through broken skin or mucous membranes. It can also be transmitted via contact with contaminated surfaces, bedding, clothing, and other materials.
Although less studied than Ebola, Marburg virus shares many characteristics with its more infamous counterpart. Transmission occurs through bodily fluids, with an incubation period that can extend up to 21 days. Severe hemorrhagic symptoms typically develop about seven days after symptom onset. At present, no established treatment, vaccine, or antiviral therapy exists to combat this deadly virus.
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