In News:

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently confirmed a case of Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) in Uganda, highlighting the continued threat posed by emerging zoonotic diseases in Africa.

About Marburg Virus Disease (MVD)

• Marburg Virus Disease (MVD), formerly known as Marburg haemorrhagic fever, is a severe viral haemorrhagic fever caused by the Marburg virus, a highly virulent zoonotic pathogen belonging to the Filoviridae family—the same family that includes the Ebola virus.
• The disease affects both humans and non-human primates (chimpanzees, gorillas and monkeys). It derives its name from the German city of Marburg, where the first known outbreak occurred in 1967 among laboratory workers handling infected African green monkeys imported from Uganda.
• The virus is primarily found in sub-Saharan Africa, where sporadic outbreaks continue to occur.

Transmission

The natural reservoir of the Marburg virus is the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus). Human infections usually occur following prolonged exposure to bat-inhabited caves or mines.

Once a person becomes infected, the virus spreads through direct contact with infected blood, saliva, vomit, urine, faeces and other bodily fluids. Transmission may also occur through contaminated clothing, bedding, medical equipment or other objects exposed to infectious body fluids.

Importantly, Marburg virus is not airborne and does not spread through casual social contact. Infection requires direct exposure to infected body fluids or contaminated materials.

Clinical Features

The incubation period ranges from 2 to 21 days.

Early symptoms include:

• High fever
• Chills
• Severe headache
• Muscle pain
• Skin rash
• Chest pain and sore throat
• Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea

As the disease progresses, patients may develop haemorrhage, liver failure, delirium, shock and multi-organ dysfunction. Death, when it occurs, usually results from massive blood loss, circulatory shock and multiple organ failure, generally within 8–9 days after symptom onset.

The average case fatality rate is around 50%, although previous outbreaks have recorded fatality rates ranging from 24% to 88%, depending on the quality of medical care.

Treatment

At present, no licensed vaccine or specific antiviral treatment is available for Marburg Virus Disease.

Management is primarily supportive and includes:

• Intravenous fluids and electrolyte replacement
• Maintenance of oxygenation and blood pressure
• Treatment of secondary infections
• Pain management and intensive supportive care

Early diagnosis, isolation of patients and strict infection prevention and control measures are critical for limiting outbreaks.

In News:

The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed Ethiopia’s first-ever outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease (MVD), with nine laboratory-confirmed cases reported from Jinka town in the South Ethiopia Region. This marks a significant expansion of the geographical spread of the virus, previously limited mostly to central and eastern Africa.

What is Marburg Virus Disease?

• A severe, highly fatal hemorrhagic fever caused by:
  • Marburg virus (MARV)
  • Ravn virus (RAVV)
• Both belong to the species Orthomarburgvirusmarburgense, within the Filoviridae family.
• It is clinically similar to Ebola, the only other filovirus known to infect humans.
• Case fatality rate (CFR): up to 88%

History and Origin

• First identified during simultaneous outbreaks in 1967 in:
  • Marburg (Germany)
  • Frankfurt (Germany)
  • Belgrade (Serbia)
• Outbreaks initially linked to laboratory exposure to infected African green monkeys.

Natural Reservoir

• The natural host is believed to be the Rousettus aegyptiacus fruit bat (Egyptian rousette), from the Pteropodidae family.
• These bats can carry the virus without showing signs of illness.

Transmission

• Primary transmission (animal to human): Direct exposure to fruit bats or their droppings.
• Secondary transmission (human to human): Direct contact with:
  • Blood, saliva, vomit, urine, or sweat of infected persons
  • Contaminated surfaces, clothing, or medical equipment
• Burial practices involving contact with the body increase spread.

Geographical Spread

• Most outbreaks occur in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Reported inTanzania, Uganda, Angola, Kenya, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, South Africa, Congo, and Equatorial Guinea

Genetic analysis indicates Ethiopia's strain is similar to previous East African outbreaks.

Symptoms of Marburg Virus Disease

• Early Stage: High fever, Severe headache, Muscle aches, Fatigue
• Advanced Stage (within a week)

• Severe bleeding (internal and external)
• Multi-organ failure
• Liver dysfunction
• Shock
• Death typically within 8–9 days of symptom onset

Treatment and Prevention

• No approved antiviral treatment or vaccine currently exists.
• Supportive therapy is the only effective option:
  • IV/oral rehydration
  • Electrolyte balancing
  • Treating secondary infections
  • Maintaining oxygen and blood pressure
• Early supportive care improves survival but remains limited.

Current Response in Ethiopia

National authorities, with WHO support, are implementing:

• Case isolation
• Contact tracing
• Community-wide screening
• Public awareness campaigns
• Deployment of medical supplies and emergency teams

The focus is on containing transmission and preventing cross-border spread.

Why is it in the News?

The Kitum cave in Mount Elgon National Park, Kenya, is known as the world's deadliest cave which may have some really dangerous viruses inside, like Ebola and Marburg.

What is Marburg Virus Disease (MVD)?

• Marburg virus disease (MVD), formerly known as Marburg hemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness in humans.
• It affects both people and non-human primates.
• Marburg and Ebola viruses are both members of the Filoviridae family (filovirus).
• Though caused by different viruses, the two diseases are clinically similar.
  • Both diseases are rare and can cause outbreaks with high fatality rates.
  • The average MVD case fatality rate is around 50%.
• Rousettus aegyptiacus, fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family, are considered to be natural hosts of the Marburg virus.

Transmission:

• Human infection with MVD typically occurs after prolonged exposure to Rousettus bats inhabiting mines or caves.
• The virus can then spread through human-to-human transmission via direct contact with infected bodily fluids, contaminated materials, or broken skin and mucous membranes.

Symptoms:

• After an incubation period of 2-21 days, symptoms arise abruptly, including fever, chills, headache, and muscle pain.
• A maculopapular rash may appear around day five, most visible on the chest, back, and stomach.
• Other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, chest pain, sore throat, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, can manifest, with severity increasing to potentially include jaundice, organ dysfunction, severe weight loss, delirium, and massive hemorrhaging.
• The average MVD case fatality rate is around 50%, varying between 24% and 88% in past outbreaks.

Treatment:

• There is currently no specific treatment for MVD, but early supportive care involving rehydration and symptom management improves survival rates.

Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (VHFs):

• Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHFs) is a group of diseases caused by several distinct families of viruses that affect multiple organ systems in the body.
• These illnesses range from mild to severe and life-threatening, with many having no known cure or vaccine.
• VHFs negatively impact the cardiovascular system and reduce overall bodily function.