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Mahesh

27/03/23 21:42 PM IST

Tanzania confirms first-ever outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease

In News
  • Tanzania today confirmed its first-ever cases of Marburg Virus Disease after laboratory tests were carried out following reports of cases and deaths in the country’s north-west Kagera region.
Marburg Virus Disease
  • Marburg virus is an Ebola-like virus that causes viral hemorrhagic fever.
  • The virus is the causative agent of Marburg virus disease (MVD), a disease with a case fatality ratio of up to 88%, but can be much lower with good patient care.
  • Both Marburg and Ebola viruses are members of the Filoviridae family (filovirus), and the two diseases are clinically similar.
  • Human MVD infection results from prolonged exposure to mines or caves inhabited by Rousettus bat colonies.
  • Marburg spreads through human-to-human transmission via direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials (e.g. bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids.
Symptoms
  • The incubation period (interval from infection to onset of symptoms) varies from 2 to 21 days.
  • Illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly, with high fever, severe headache, and severe malaise.
  • Muscle aches and pains are a common feature. Severe watery diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping, nausea, and vomiting can begin on the third day.
  • Many patients develop severe hemorrhagic manifestations between 5 and 7 days, and fatal cases usually have some form of bleeding, often from multiple areas.
  • In fatal cases, death occurs most often between 8 and 9 days after symptom onset, usually preceded by severe blood loss and shock.
Prevention
  • Prevention and control measures for Marburg virus disease include standard infection control practices, such as wearing gloves and other protective equipment when caring for patients with suspected or confirmed MVD, and proper sterilization of medical equipment.
  • Health-care workers should be trained on proper infection control procedures to prevent transmission.
Source- The Print

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