DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE NEW VIRUS RISING IN AFRICA?

 

In 1967, a virus named Marburg was recognized when outbreaks of haemorrhagic fever occurred simultaneously in laboratories in Marburg and Frankfurt, Germany and in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. The Egyptian Rousette bat, or Rousettus Egipciacos, is a species of fruit bat that is native to Africa and serves as the reservoir host of the Marburg virus. Marburg virus-infected bats don't exhibit overt symptoms of sickness. The Marburg virus can infect primates (including humans), which can result in fatalities or very serious illnesses. If additional species could also host the virus, more research is required to confirm this. The cave-dwelling Egyptian Rousette bat can be found all over Africa. More regions than previously thought may be at danger for MVD outbreaks due to the bat's wide geographic distribution.

MVD outbreaks are rare over sub-Saharan Africa. Male mine workers in bat-infested mines have been the source of many outbreaks in the past. Then, through cultural customs, familial interactions, and contact with medical personnel, the virus spread throughout their communities. It's probable that sporadic isolated occurrences also happen but go unnoticed.

However rare, MVD cases in humans have been reported outside of Africa. A Dutch tourist with MVD in 2008 after traveling from Uganda, in addition to the 1967 laboratory exposures in Europe that led to the virus' detection, and subsequently died. After coming back to the US from Uganda in the same year, an American travellers suffered with MVD but recovered. Both visitors had been to a well-known fruit bat-filled cave in a national park.

HOW IS IT TRANSMITTED?

Early exposure to mines or caves where Rousettus bat colonies are present causes human MVD infection.

By direct human-to-human contact (via broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs, or other body fluids of infected persons, as well as with surfaces and items (such as bedding, clothing), contaminated with these fluids, Marburg spreads from person to person.

In attending to patients with suspected or proven MVD, healthcare personnel have regularly become infected. Close contact with patients has led to this when infection control measures are not carefully followed. More severe disease, quick deterioration, and probably a greater fatality rate is linked to transmission via contaminated injection equipment or through needle-stick wounds.

Direct contact with a deceased person's body during a burial ceremony can also help transmission of Marburg. As long as the virus is present in a person's blood, they are contagious.

MARBURG VIRUS ILLNESS SIGNS.

1. High fever
2. Severe headache
3. Severe malaise.
4. Muscle aches and pains
5. Severe watery diarrhoea
6. Abdominal pain and cramping
7. Nausea and vomiting
8. Diarrhoea

It has an incubation period of 2 to 21 days. Between five and seven days, many patients experience severe haemorrhagic symptoms, and fatal cases frequently involve numerous sites of haemorrhage. Bleeding from the nose, gums, and vagina frequently accompany fresh blood in vomitus and faeces. Death in fatal instances typically occurs 8 to 9 days after the onset of symptoms and is typically preceded by significant blood loss and shock.

WHAT IS THE TREATMENT FOR THE MARBURG VIRUS?

There are currently no licensed vaccinations or antiviral medications for MVD. Survival is improved with supportive care, such as rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids, and treatment of certain symptoms.

There are antivirals like Remdesivir and Favipiravir that have been utilized in clinical research for the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) that could be studied for MVD or used under compassionate use/expanded access. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are also being developed.

PREVENTION.

1.lowering the possibility of bat-human transfer.

2.lowering the possibility of community-wide human-to-human transmission.

3.lowering the potential for sexual transmission.