![]() Human infections typically start in areas where people have prolonged exposure to mines or caves inhabited by infected fruit bat colonies. Like Ebola, even dead bodies can spread the virus to people exposed to its fluids. This is usually accompanied by bleeding from multiple orifices - including the nose, gums, eyes and vagina. In the early stages of MVD - the disease it causes - it is very difficult to distinguish from other tropical illnesses, such as Ebola, and malaria. Symptoms appear abruptly and include severe headaches, fever, diarrhea, stomach pain and vomiting. Scientists don't, however, know the infection-fatality rate, which measures everyone who gets infected - not just cases that test positive.įor comparison, Covid had a CFR of around three percent when it burst onto the scene. That means that out of every 100 people confirmed to be infected with Marburg, half would be expected to die. The WHO says it has a case-fatality ratio (CFR) of up to 90 percent.īut experts estimate that it probably sits closer to the 50 percent mark, similar to its cousin Ebola - another member of the Filoviridae family. Marburg is one of the deadliest pathogens known to man. But a diagnosis of Marburg virus was ruled out via testing.Ĭoncerns were also raised last month that the virus had reached Equatorial Guinea's neighbor Cameroon, but health authorities in the country say all suspected patients have tested negative. There were concerns last week that the virus had spilled into Burundi after three patients died of a mystery disease that caused nosebleeds. She was hospitalized but made a full recovery. The woman had visited a fruit bat cave, with the bats known to harbor the disease. Marburg virus as only been spotted once in the US when a 44-year-old woman from Colorado who had just returned from a two-week safari in Uganda was diagnosed with the disease in 2008. The US Government has already limited travel to the country for its employees. It also advises travelers to avoid sick people, dead bodies or visiting healthcare facilities in outbreak areas while they are in the country. Last month the CDC issued a level two travel alert for those heading to Equatorial Guinea, advising 'enhanced precautions' telling Americans to avoid all non-essential travel to areas of the country that have reported cases. ![]() There are no direct flights from the US to Tanzania or Equatorial Guinea, with travelers instead needing to go via another airport such as those in Paris or Doha. There is no evidence that the outbreaks are linked, with some experts saying it was caused by separate spillover events from bats to humans. Marburg virus (MVD) is initially transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials. Two of the cases were in healthcare workers, with one of these individuals having since succumbed to the disease. Tanzania also reported its first-ever Marburg virus outbreak on March 21, saying eight cases and five fatalities had been confirmed in the northern Kagera region. Of major concern are the eight cases reported by local health authorities in Bata, a port city home to some 173,000 people. There are fears that the disease is spreading undetected in the country because it has now reached four provinces. ![]() In the time since, the nation's health ministry has confirmed three more case, adding a tenth death to the toll on Monday. There were also 20 probable cases, all of whom died. It has now triggered 14 cases and 10 deaths, according to official state figures. The CDC also said Americans traveling into Equatorial Guinea or Tanzania from the US would receive a text message warning about the outbreak and what symptoms to watch out for.Įquatorial Guinea reported its first-ever outbreak of Marburg virus on February 7. People can also catch it by touching towels or surfaces that also can into contact with an infected person. The disease is spread between people via contact with bodily fluids, such as saliva, blood, semen, sweat or feces. Infected patients become 'ghost-like', often developing deep-set eyes and expressionless faces.īut in later stages bleeding from multiple orifices - including the nose, gums, eyes and vagina - can emerge. Like Ebola, even dead bodies can spread the virus to people exposed to its fluids. ![]() In the early stages of MVD - the disease Marburg causes - it is very difficult to distinguish from other tropical illnesses, such as Ebola, and malaria. Symptoms appear abruptly, including severe headaches, fever, diarrhea, stomach pain, and vomiting.
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