What is Marburg Virus? Symptoms and Precautions of this Deadly Virus

It looks like people are living in the era of viruses. One after the other new fatal viruses is making their appearance in the world.

Recently WHO released a statement on Sunday about a deadly virus Marburg

‘Ghana recently reported its first two cases of highly infectious Marburg Virus.’ 

Both of the patients died soon after they got admitted to the hospital. It is highly infectious and equally dangerous to Ebola, with no cure and treatment.

Let You Know about this new and deadly virus, its origin, symptoms, and precautions.

What is Marburg Virus?

Marburg virus causes Marburg Virus Disease also known as hemorrhagic fever. It is deadly as Ebola as it belongs to the same family. And its fatality rates are 88%.

African countries including Kenya, South Africa, Congo, Angola, and Uganda saw its outbreaks in the past.

Also Read: Monkeypox Outbreaks around the World: Know its Symptoms and Causes

Origin of Marburg Virus Disease-

For the first time, the virus was isolated in 1967. Laboratory workers of a pharmaceutical company Behringwerke in Marburg city of Germany exposed to the tissues of infected Grivet monkeys.

These monkeys, unfortunately, were transported from African countries.

According to WHO reports the main host of the Marburg virus is Rousettus bats. They are one of the species of fruit bats.

Grivet monkeys got infected by these bats and from them, it is transmitted to humans in Marburg, Frankfurt cities of Germany, and the Yugoslav capital of Belgrade.

Symptoms and Mode of Transmission-

#MarburgVirus causes deadly hemorrhagic fever among the infected patients causing deadly changes in them. These changes if not treated on time results in the death of patients.

Some of the symptoms may appear on the first day or third day which include:

 • High fever
 • headache
 • muscles pain
 • abdominal cramps

On the third-day patient experiences nausea and diarrhea, this can persist for a week.

Non-itchy rashes begin to appear in the body after 2-7 days of infection.

As the disease progressed, bleeding started from the gum, nose, vagina, and stool, and this lead to death after 8-9th days.

Transmission-

Marburg Virus is highly infectious and rapidly spread through direct contact with the affected patient. It happens through:

 • Body fluids like mucous, sprinkle of spits during sneezing, and blood
 • Sexual contact with the infected patients
 • Marburg virus spread through diseased patients during cremation

Marburg virus can remain inside the body post recovery and the patient can still infect people.

Therefore, recovered patients must get tested 2-3 times to ensure they are negative and pose no risk to society.

Diagnosis and Precautionary Steps-

Diagnosis of Marburg virus-affected patients can be done via

 • Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
 • Antigen detection test
 • RT-PCR
 • Serum neutralization test
 • Cell culture test

According to the WHO, there is no treatment and vaccines for Marburg Virus disease. Only rehydration therapy and immediate measures may protect the patients.

Ghana Health Service urged the people of Ghana to avoid caves and mines, a place of the bat's hideout, and avoid social contacts to prevent the spread.

Ghana Health Authorities quarantined approximately 100s people, who were in contact with patients.

WHO also warned if necessary steps are not taken, this disease will quickly go out of control.

Kindly take note #PSGhAshanti #PSGh #AskYourPharmacist #marburgvirus pic.twitter.com/xaNbM0Eicl

— Pharmaceutical Society Of Ghana - Ashanti Region (@PSGhAshanti) July 17, 2022