Marburg Virus – A child who had been infected with a virus similar to the Ebola has died in Ghana, according to the country’s health minister. The child, who died on Thursday, was in critical condition when he was admitted to a hospital in the capital, Accra, on Tuesday, Kwasi Konadu Agyemang told reporters. The child, whose name was not released, had been in contact with an Ebola patient who had traveled to Ghana from Liberia. The Liberian man, who has since died, is the only confirmed case of Ebola in Ghana.
What is Marburg virus?
Marburg virus is a hemorrhagic fever virus that is closely related to Ebola virus. Both viruses cause severe hemorrhagic fever in humans and are considered to be among the most virulent pathogens known. Marburg virus was first identified in 1967 when outbreaks of hemorrhagic fever occurred in Germany and Yugoslavia. The virus is named after the city of Marburg in Germany, where the first outbreak occurred.
Marburg virus symptoms include:
Fever
Headache
Muscle pain
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Rash
Bleeding from the eyes, nose, or mouth
Marburg virus infection
Marburg virus infection is a severe, viral hemorrhagic fever that occurs in humans and nonhuman primates (monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees). The virus is closely related to the Ebola virus and is considered a biosafety level 4 pathogen, which is the highest level of containment required. The incubation period for it virus is 5-10 days. Symptoms of virus infection include fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and bleeding from the eyes, nose, or mouth. The virus is fatal in 25-80% of cases. There is no specific treatment for virus infection and no vaccine is available. See all information at www.who.int.
Marburg transmission
Marburg virus transmission from monkeys to humans occurred for the first time in 1967. The first outbreak of Marburg disease in humans occurred in 1967 in German city of Marburg, in the former West Germany, when 30 people became ill with hemorrhagic fever after contact with infected green monkeys imported from Uganda. The second outbreak of Marburg disease in humans occurred in 1975 in Yugoslavia (Serbia), with one laboratory-confirmed and three suspected cases, all of whom had contact with infected Egyptian monkeys.
Marburg virus Conclusion.
The Marburg virus is a serious and deadly virus that can cause severe illness and death in humans. There is no specific treatment for the Marburg virus and it is important to avoid contact with infected animals or people.