Marburg hemorrhagic fever

Marburg hemorrhagic fever is a severe and fatal disease caused by a virus called Marburg virus. This disease is very similar to Ebola hemorrhagic fever though they are caused by different viruses. These viruses belong to the Filoviridae family and are among the most virulent pathogens known to infect humans.

Age group infected:

All age groups are susceptible although the maximum number of fatal cases have occurred in adults.

Symptoms:

• Symptoms are abrupt. Starts with severe headache and malaise.
• Very high fever
• Progressive debilitation
• Watery diarrhea, stomach cramping, vomiting, nausea.
• Usually bleeding from multiple sites. Blood in vomitus and stool is often seen with bleeding from nose, gums and vagina.
• It often effects the central nervous system and this results in confusion, irritability, or even aggression.
• Death is withing 8 to nine days due to excessive bleeding and intermittent shocks.

Transmission and spread:

• Close contact with patients and infected individuals. No casual contact has been reported to cause transmission. Because of this transmission through oral route is not suggested.
• Contact with blood and body fluids is the main transmission mode.
• Incubation period is 3-9 days. During this period transmission has not been reported.
• Patients are most infectious during hemorrhagic manisfestations.

Occurrence:

Outbreaks have been reported from the African countries, Congo, Kenya, and South Africa. Early reported outbreaks from Germany and former Yugoslavia were due to laboratory work with African green monkeys.

Prevention:

• Stay away from patients and infected individuals.
• If you travel to these parts during an outbreak, please contact your local health authorities to get further guidance.

Note:

No natural reservoir of the virus is known. Laboratory testing with animals and plants have indicated noting. Monkeys are susceptible but they do not survive long enough to classify as a natural host. It is also believed that humans are not part of their natural transmission, all human infections are accidental.

Compiled by: Indrajit Sinha,

Last updated: 02.12.07 © Medhospital Foundation

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