The highly contagious and potentially fatal Marburg virus disease has been confirmed in the West African country of Ghana, making it the second country in the region to experience an outbreak after the more well-known Ebola virus disease.
The World Health Organization has issued a press release stating that two unrelated people in the country have died from the illness after exhibiting symptoms including diarrhea, fever, nausea, and vomiting (WHO).
The Ghanaian government and the World Health Organization (WHO) are currently working to stop the spread of the disease by taking preventative measures and spreading awareness about the disease among local communities. However, U.S. officials monitoring the outbreak have stated that the Marburg virus, unlike COVID-19, is not spread by airborne particles and droplets and thus is highly unlikely to reach western countries.
"In this instance, we can provide a great deal of reassurance: this is not like monkeypox. In contrast to Covid, "Vanderbilt University Medical Center's William Schaffner, MD, professor of preventive medicine in the Department of Health Policy and professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases, told Health. "These two viruses each have their own mode of transmission and can be brought in from other countries. But I think it's highly unlikely that this one will spread, and even if it does, it will probably only be a case here or there."
Discover more about the history of Marburg virus disease, its mode of transmission, and the available treatments here.
The Causes of Marburg Virus Disease
The Marburg virus is responsible for Marburg virus disease; it is a zoonotic (animal-borne) virus with a unique genetic makeup. Viral hemorrhagic fever describes an illness that weakens the immune system, causes bleeding in the blood vessels, and impairs the body's ability to function on its own.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the Marburg virus is spread by African fruit bats (CDC). The cave-dwelling bats can be found all over Africa. This illness has also been documented in nonhuman primates.
It wasn't until 1967 that the first confirmed cases of Marburg virus were discovered, when outbreaks happened simultaneously in research facilities in Germany and Yugoslavia. In total, 31 people fell ill and 7 perished during that epidemic. According to the CDC, the infected people had all been conducting research with African green monkeys that had been imported from Uganda, which is where the virus was first identified.
Afterwards, there were only a few isolated cases. According to the WHO, this is only the second time the disease has been documented in West Africa. The first was a single case in Guinea in 2021, and the outbreak there was declared over.
Disease has also spread in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda.
The transmission of the Marburg virus.
Fruit bats are being blamed for spreading the current outbreak in Ghana.
Doctor Thomas Russo, head of the Infectious Diseases Division at the University at Buffalo's Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, told Health that the virus can be spread through contact with bat feces, body secretions, or urine.
Dr. Russo also mentioned that bats finding their way inside homes could potentially expose people to bat guano. It is also possible for people to be exposed if they accidentally come into contact with bat feces while engaging in recreational or occupational activities.
Dean Blumberg, MD, chief of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and a professor in the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at UC Davis Health, told Health that the virus can be spread from person to person through contact with blood or other bodily fluids.
Dr. Blumberg added that after the virus has been detected, preventative measures to stop its spread from person to person are the same as those used for other hemorrhagic fevers like Ebola.
To protect themselves from the potentially deadly Marburg virus, healthcare workers wear protective gear such as masks, gloves, and gowns when caring for patients.
Malarial Marburg Symptoms
The human illness caused by the Marburg virus can be very severe. The World Health Organization (WHO) describes the onset as being "sudden and severe," with symptoms including high fever, severe headache, and malaise.
Chills, headaches, and muscle aches are additional symptoms that can appear anywhere from two days to twenty-one days after exposure, according to Dr. Blumberg.
After about five days of experiencing symptoms, a rash may become noticeable, according to Dr. Blumberg. "Abnormalities of the digestive tract, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, are also possible. Severe illness affecting multiple organs is possible, as is shock resulting in massive bleeding episodes."
Severe hemorrhagic symptoms can appear in as little as seven days, and the case fatality rate varies from 24% to 88%, depending on the virus strain and the case management, as reported by the World Health Organization.
The disease "spreads throughout the body, making our organs progressively sick," Dr. Schaffner said. "It can penetrate deep into the skin and affect its cells. This is the main reason why Marburg causes death. Multiple body systems are vulnerable to infection. A person's ability to bleed is compromised, increasing the risk of external hemorrhage through the skin, rectum, or mouth."
The Current State of Marburg Virus Therapy
Neither a vaccine nor a specific treatment exists for Marburg virus disease. Instead, "supportive care" is provided to people who test positive for the virus. Rehydration therapy commonly consists of giving the patient fluids either orally or intravenously.
Dr. Russo explained that in addition to standard care, patients may require additional organ support, such as a ventilator and drugs to maintain blood pressure, or additional blood products if they are experiencing bleeding issues.
Dr. Russo has stated, "It almost certainly has the potential to be a severe virus causing respiratory, cardiac, and renal dysfunction requiring hospitalization and appropriate organ support."
A lot of places don't have access to adequate medical care.
Dr. Schaffner has said, "In parts of the world where resources are limited, it is usually fatal."
How Dangerous Is the Marburg Virus to the United States?
Medical experts have emphasized that there is no need for Americans to be alarmed about this virus at this time. The virus spreads in a very different way from COVID-19, which is a major factor in this difference.
Close, personal contact is the primary mode of transmission, according to Dr. Schaffner. If you're having a conversation with someone, it won't "spread across the room."
In the extremely rare cases where a person infected with Marburg has traveled from Africa to the United States or Canada, Dr. Schaffner noted that healthcare workers who put their hands on a patient are at the highest risk.
Even so, Dr. Schaffner remarked, "once the virus is diagnosed, we have elaborate healthcare procedures to protect healthcare workers."
