EXPLAINED | What Is Marburg Virus? Is It Same As Ebola? Symptoms, Treatment And Everything You Want To Know

<p><strong>New Delhi:</strong> A case of the Marburg virus disease or MVD was reported from West Africa, the World Health Organization said today. The person infected succumbed to the virus, like Ebola, the Marburg virus is a highly infectious haemorrhagic fever.</p> <p>The virus is carried by a fruit-eating bat called Rousettus bat. Earlier, MVD cases were reported in humans who had prolonged exposure to the caves or mines where these bats reside in.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>ALSO READ: <span style="color: #e03e2d;"><a style="color: #e03e2d;" href="https://ift.tt/3fPnllD Case Of Lethal Marburg Virus Detected In West Africa, What We Know So Far</a></span></strong></p> <p><strong>History &amp; Transmission</strong></p> <p>Marburg and Ebola viruses are both members of the Filoviridae family (filovirus). MVD was initially detected in 1967 after simultaneous outbreaks in Marburg and Frankfurt in Germany; and in Belgrade, Serbia. These outbreaks were associated with laboratory work using African green monkeys that were imported from Uganda.</p> <p>Rousettus bats are the natural hosts for the Marburg virus, even though in the first outbreak the source were the Green monkeys. Pigs are susceptible to filovirus infection hence, they too are considered to be an amplifier host of MVD.&nbsp;</p> <p>Human to human transmission can be from&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Symptoms</strong></p> <p>A person can begin to show symptoms from anywhere between 2 to 21 days, and these may begin with abrupt &amp; high fever, severe headache &amp; malaise. These are to be followed by symptoms like severe muscle pain, followed by abdominal cramping, watery diarrhoea, vomiting, during this period WHO says that the patient has a "ghost-like" appearance due to the deep-set eyes and extreme lethargy.&nbsp;</p> <p>Severe haemorrhagic symptoms appear between 5 and 7 days, wherein patients have some form of bleeding, often from multiple areas. Aside from fresh blood in the vomit, and faeces, a patient may bleed through their gums, nose and even vagina. In the later phase of the disease, inflammation of both the testicles have also been reported.&nbsp;</p> <p>Due to the involvement of the central nervous system or CNS, the patient could be confused, irritable or even aggressive. Death usually is reported most often between 8 and 9 days after the onset of symptoms.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Diagnosis &amp; Treatments</strong></p> <p>According to the WHO, these diagnostic methods can be used as the symptoms can be confused with that of disease like malaria &amp; typhoid.&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li>antibody-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)</li> <li>antigen-capture detection tests</li> <li>serum neutralization test</li> <li>reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay</li> <li>electron microscopy</li> <li>virus isolation by cell culture</li> </ul> <p>Currently, there are no vaccines for the virus, but supportive care such as rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids or treatment of specific symptoms can improve chances of survival.</p> <p><strong>Prevention</strong></p> <ul> <li>People visiting or working in caves/mines should were gloves and other protective gear.&nbsp;</li> <li>Persons caring for patients must were PPE and must avoid contact with any bodily fluids. It is recommended by the WHO that regular handwashing with soap and water is a must while caring for or visiting patients.</li> <li>The deceased must be given a dignified and proper burial and those who have come in contact with the patient must be monitored for 21 days.&nbsp;</li> <li>Male survivors must test their semen twice for a negative result after 12 months of the onset of the symptoms.&nbsp;</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p>