Marburg virus: Marburg virus, a closely related species of Ebola, causes severe viral hemorrhagic fever.How to protect yourself

In July 2022, Ghana confirmed the first two fatal cases. Marburg virusHighly infectious disease of the same family as the causative virus Ebola.. Wale Fatade and Usifo Omozokpea of ​​The Conversation Africa asked virologist Oyewale Tomori about its origins and how people can protect themselves from the disease.

What is the Marburg virus? Where are you from

Marburg virus Marburg virus disease (((MVD), Formerly known as Marburg hemorrhagic fever. The virus, which belongs to the same family as the Ebola virus, causes severe viral hemorrhagic fever in humans with an average case fatality rate of about 50%. It varied between 24% and 88% in various outbreaks, depending on the strain and case management.

It was first reported in 1967 in the town of Marburg, Germany, and in Belgrade, Yugoslavia (now Serbia). There were simultaneous outbreaks in both cities. It came from monkeys imported from Uganda for laboratory research in Marburg. Working with monkey materials (blood, tissue, cells) resulted in infection of laboratory staff. Of the 31 cases associated with these outbreaks, 7 died.

Other cases have been reported in different parts of the world since the first outbreak. Most were in Africa-Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, South Africa, and more recently Guinea and Ghana. Serological studies also revealed evidence of past Marburg virus infections in Nigeria.

The host or reservoir of the virus has not been definitively identified, but the virus is associated with bats. In 2008, two independent cases were reported of travelers visiting a cave inhabited by a colony of Rousettus bats in Uganda.

How is it spreading?
It spreads through contact with infected host or reservoir substances (liquids, blood, tissues, and cells). In the case of monkeys imported from Uganda to Marburg, laboratory staff were apparently infected by contact with monkey tissue and blood.

There is also person-to-person transmission through direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs, other body fluids of infected people, and surfaces and substances (damage to the skin and mucous membranes). This includes materials such as bedding and clothing contaminated with these liquids.

But there are many things we do not know. For example, whether contact with cave bat droppings can cause infections in people.

What are the symptoms? And how bad can they be?

After an incubation period of 2 to 21 days, illnesses characterized by fever, chills, headaches, and muscle aches develop suddenly.

Around 5 days after the onset of symptoms, the most prominent papular papular rash may appear on the trunk (chest, back, stomach). Nausea, vomiting, chest pain, sore throat, abdominal pain and diarrhea may occur. Symptoms become more severe and include jaundice, pancreatic inflammation, severe weight loss, delirium, shock, liver failure, massive bleeding, and multiple organ failure.

The mortality rate is about 50% and can range from 88% to 20%.

This indicates that it is a fairly serious infection. Both infected in Ghana died.

Can you treat it?

Although not really, early supportive care with hydration and symptomatic treatment improves survival.

What can people do to protect themselves?
Avoid exposure to the virus as much as possible and protect it from emissions from infected people.

Also, because the symptoms of many hemorrhagic fever diseases are similar, it is necessary to ensure that cases of Marburg virus infection are confirmed in the laboratory, especially in the early stages. And when that happens (as in the case of Ebola), the person should be immediately quarantined and avoid contact with others.

How can I prevent the virus from spreading?
There are no holidays due to the outbreak of illness. That is, as a country, surveillance cannot take breaks or vacations.

Given that there was an incident in Ghana, it was time to be on the alert. Appropriate screening is required. Arrivals from Ghana and other West African countries must be confirmed at the point of entry.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like everyone is thinking about it now. The attitude seems to be: Oh, there are only two cases in Ghana.

However, I think it is best to be vigilant at the port of entry, especially for people in countries where incidents have been reported. Studies conducted in Nigeria in the 1980s and more recently in the 1990s provide evidence of possible previous infections with the Marburg virus (or related virus) in certain Nigerian populations. I believe this is probably more widespread than we think the virus is. Diagnostic improvements are needed to help detect as quickly and efficiently as possible.

In addition to this, countries need to improve disease surveillance and laboratory diagnostics to enhance and improve their ability to more reliably diagnose viral hemorrhagic fever infections.

(This PTI was syndicated via The Conversation)