Marburg Virus

    A member of the virus family Filoviridae and a member of the genus Marburgvirus, the Marburg virus (MARV) is a haemorrhagic fever virus. 

Marburg virus

The Marburg virus, a type of viral haemorrhagic fever, causes Marburg virus sickness in primates. It is thought that the virus is very deadly. The illness results in a haemorrhagic fever that is extremely contagious and similar to Ebola. The only other occasion it has been found in West Africa was this time. It is classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a Pathogen in Risk Group 4. (requiring biosafety level 4-equivalent containment).

The Marburg virus was initially identified in 1967. A series of Marburg virus outbreaks that year in the German cities of Marburg and Frankfurt as well as the Yugoslavian capital Belgrade led to its discovery. Thirty-one people were infected during the epidemics, and seven of them passed away.

The Marburg virus has been found in two cases in Ghana, according to the World Health Organization. The virus claimed the lives of both of the individuals who tested positive for it. This is the first case of the illness in Ghana. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Guinean authorities last year identified a case of the Marburg virus in the country's southern Gueckedou region.

The WHO describes the illness as "epidemic-prone," which means that if it is not controlled, it can spread quickly amongst people. Previous Marburg epidemics have occurred in South Africa, Angola, Uganda, and other nations in Africa.

The signs and symptoms of Marburg HF (haemorrhagic fever), which appear 5 to 10 days after exposure, are as follows:

·       High grade fever

·       Intense body pain

·       Headache

·       Chills and shivering

The majority of the rash appears on the chest and back five days after the onset of the initial symptoms, according to her. Then, other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea as well as chest pain and stomach pain appear. After this, there can be skin colour shifts where the skin looks yellow (jaundice).

"Liver failure and severe bleeding result from pancreatic and liver inflammation,"

Although there is no vaccine or specific treatment available for Marburg disease, the majority of patients who seek medical attention will need intravenous (IV) fluids, electrolyte replacement, more oxygen, and replacement of blood and blood products.

One serious issue is that 25 to 30 percent of patients who get Marburg HF will die from it and cautioned that it might be difficult to diagnose.

The first manifestation of Marburg HF may be difficult to distinguish from other, more typical viral infections.

So, it is crucial for patients to inform their doctor right away if they've visited a location that could have exposed them to the virus that causes Marburg disease.