Sign In
Learn bits
Science & Tech.
Mahesh

08/10/24 09:55 AM IST

Marburg virus

In News
  • The deadly Marburg virus could overwhelm Rwanda’s fragile healthcare system.
  • Since the east African country reported the first Marburg case late last month, at least 46 individuals have been infected and 12 Marburg deaths reported.
Marburg Virus
  • Marburg is among the deadliest pathogens known to humans, with Marburg virus disease (MVD) case fatality rates ranging from 24% to 88% in past outbreaks, depending on virus strain and case management.
  • The first outbreak occurred in Marburg, Germany, in 1967.
  • Since then, subsequent outbreaks have been mostly reported across Africa.
  • Marburg belongs to the filovirus family, like Ebola. Both pathogens are clinically similar, and although rare, can cause outbreaks with high fatality rates.
  • Initially, human MVD infections were caused by prolonged exposure to mines or caves inhabited by colonies of Rousettus bats, most notably the Egyptian fruit bat.
  • However, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), Marburg also spreads through human-to-human transition both directly (through contact with blood and other bodily fluids of infected people) and indirectly (through surfaces and materials like bedding, clothing, etc. contaminated with these fluids).
  • Medical workers treating confirmed or suspected MVD cases have been frequently infected in outbreaks, especially when infection control and precautions are lax.
Symptoms
  • The interval between infection and onset of symptoms varies from 2 to 21 days.
  • Initial symptoms, according to the WHO, include high fever, severe headache, muscle ache, severe watery diarrhoea, abdominal pain and cramping, and vomiting.
  • Many patients develop haemorrhagic symptoms (bleeding), often in many places including the digestive system (faeces and vomit often come with fresh blood), the nose, gums, and vagina.
  • Haemmorage leads to most MVD fatalities, with death in fatal cases occurring 8 to 9 days after the onset of symptoms, usually of severe blood loss and shock.
Prevention
  • Currently, there are no approved vaccines or specific treatments for MVD.
  • However, according to WHO, supportive care — rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids — and treatment of specific symptoms, improves survival.
  • The US-based Sabin Vaccine Institute has provided Rwanda with 700 doses of its experimental Marburg vaccine, which will be administered to healthcare professionals at the frontlines.
Source- Indian Express

More Related Current Affairs View All

14 Nov

India’s tea, sugar exports raise sustainability concerns at home

'India is one of the world’s largest agricultural product exporters.' The Indian agricultural export is valued at $53.1 billion in 2022-2023, up from $8.7 billion in 2004-

Read More

14 Nov

Superbugs and the looming public health crisis

'LESS than a hundred years ago, antibiotics ushered in an era that transformed medical care.' It saved millions of lives and accelerated the development and use of complex surge

Read More

13 Nov

Healthy longevity initiative

'The World Bank report proposes a healthy longevity initiative (HLI) which takes a life course approach.' Briefly, healthy longevity entails sharply reducing avoidable death and

Read More

India’s First Ai-Driven Magazine Generator

Generate Your Custom Current Affairs Magazine using our AI in just 3 steps