What is Marburg virus, what causes it, and how is it transmitted?

(CNN Spanish) — A rare but highly infectious disease, the Marburg virus, was first detected in West Africa in August 2021, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The patient in Gueckedou, Guinea, died after contracting the disease caused by the virus, similar to Ebola.

In July 2022, Ghana confirmed its first two cases of the Marburg virus, as confirmed by the WHO.

The announcement came after two unrelated patients from the southern Ashanti region of Ghana, who later died, tested positive for the virus.

The patients had shown symptoms including diarrhoea, fever, nausea and vomiting, the WHO said, adding that more than 90 contacts are being monitored.

A microscopic image of the Marburg virus.

But what is Marburg virus, and how prevalent and how dangerous is it really?

According to WHOMarburg virus was first identified in 1967, when 31 people became ill in Marburg and Frankfurt, Germany, and Belgrade, then Yugoslavia and today Serbia, in an outbreak that was eventually traced to lab monkeys imported from Uganda .

High mortality rates, low frequency

Originally known as Marburg hemorrhagic fever, it has mortality rates ranging from 24% to 88%, depending on the strain and care.

By comparison, ebola death rates they range from 25% to 90%, and on average settle at 50%.
Since its first outbreak, Marburg virus has appeared sporadically, with only a dozen outbreaks recorded in angolathe Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, South Africa (in a person who had traveled to Zimbabwe) and Uganda, according to the WHO. Many of them involved only one diagnosed case.

What are the symptoms of Marburg virus?

Its symptoms are similar to those of Ebola, beginning with fever and weakness and often leading to internal or external bleeding, organ failure, and death. While its incubation period is between 2 and 21 days, and most deaths occur between day 8 or 9.

Patients experiencing severe cases often take on a “ghostly” appearance, with expressionless faces and wasted bodies, according to the WHO.

origin in animals

The Marburg virus is mainly transmitted to humans through frugivorous bats –that is, they feed on fruits– of the Pteropodidae family, also known as rousettuses. Although cases of transmission through African green monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) have also been noted, including the first documented in Europe.

Fruit-eating bats are a major source of Marburg virus transmission. (Credit: Sam Panthaky/AFP/Getty Images)

It can then pass from person to person through direct contact with the body fluids of infected people, organs, or surfaces and materials contaminated with these fluids.

There are currently no vaccines or antiviral treatments against the Marburg virus. However, there are treatments for specific symptoms that can improve a patient’s chances of survival.

There are also treatments to neutralize the virus currently under investigation, including antivirals and monoclonal antibodies, but not yet approved, the WHO said.

With information from Stephanie Busari and Samson Ntale.