Marburg Disease

Why in news?

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

About 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.
• 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.
• The average case fatality rate is around 50%.

Treatment:

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

PRACTICE QUESTION:

Consider the following statements regarding Marburg Disease:

1. There are no authorized vaccines or drugs to treat Marburg

2. It spreads between people close contact with the infected persons

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer