WHO says Equatorial Guinea confirms 1st outbreak of Marburg

Source: The post is based on the article “WHO says Equatorial Guinea confirms 1st outbreak of Marburg” published in Down To Earth on 15th February 2023.

What is the News?

The World Health Organization(WHO) says that Equatorial Guinea has confirmed its first-ever outbreak of Marburg disease.

What is Marburg Disease?

Marburg Disease is a severe, often fatal illness in humans. The virus causes severe viral haemorrhagic fever in humans.

Marburg and Ebola viruses are both members of the Filoviridae family (filovirus). Both diseases are rare and have the capacity to cause outbreaks with high fatality rates.

First Identified in: The Marburg virus was first identified in 1967 after it caused simultaneous outbreaks of disease in laboratories in Marburg, Germany and Belgrade, Serbia.

– In a 2004 outbreak in Angola, Marburg killed 90% of 252 people infected.

Transmission: Marburg virus originates in bats and spreads between people via close contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, or surfaces, like contaminated bedsheets. 

Symptoms: Illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly with high fever, severe headache and severe malaise. Many patients develop severe haemorrhagic symptoms within seven days.

Fatality rate: The average case fatality rate is around 50%. Case fatality rates have varied from 24% to 88% in past outbreaks depending on virus strain and case management.

Treatment: There are no authorized vaccines or drugs to treat Marburg, but rehydration treatment to alleviate symptoms can improve the chances of survival.