The World Health Organization recently confirmed the Marburg disease outbreak in Equatorial Guinea. Patients suffering from the disease experience diarrhoea, vomiting, and stomach pain. Also, there is bleeding in severe cases. An e-bola-related virus is causing the disease. The Spread of the disease is epidemic; meaning the disease is widespread.
Marburg virus
The virus comes from bats. It spreads through close skin contact, bodily fluids, and also through infected surfaces. It causes hemorrhagic fever. Fever affects the organs and they start bleeding.
Symptoms of the disease
- Vomiting, stomach pain, and diarrhoea are the major symptoms
- Incubation period: 2 days to three weeks
- Severe cases face bleeding; that is, they may vomit blood; also they may find blood in their gums, stools, nose, etc.
Incubation period: the time period between the people get exposure to the disease and the appearance of the first symptom
Some Facts about Marburg Virus
- Both Marburg and Ebola viruses belong to the Filoviridae family, that is, the Filovirus
- Marburg virus was first identified in German cities in 1967
- The disease is fatal. 88% of the people infected with the disease died
- No approved vaccines are available for the virus
- Before the outbreak of Equatorial Guinea, the Marburg outbreak occurred in Ghana in 2022