Marburg virus disease (MVD) is a haemorrhagic fever caused by Marburg virus, which forms part of filovirus or Filoviridae. Marburg virus disease is closely similar to Ebola virus disease and has fatal outbreaks of very high morbidity. History, symptoms and signs, spread, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Marburg virus disease are extensively described in this article.
Origins and History of Marburg Virus Disease
The initial isolation was in 1967 from the simultaneous outbreak in Marburg, Germany, and Belgrade, Yugoslavia now comprised of Serbia, and from inoculated African green monkeys initially imported from Uganda and then handled by laboratory staff. Since then, the disease has been restricted mostly to sub-Saharan Africa, namely Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda. The virus was first suspected to be of fruit bats that naturally carry Rousettus aegyptiacus.
Symptoms of Marburg Virus Disease
Marburg virus disease causes sudden development of body aches, headache, and deteriorating fever. The conditions are similar to any other fever illness but gradually get worse afterward. The patients get weaker, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea in a couple of days. Other more dangerous manifestations also occur following disease development, such as hemorrhagic presentations of internal bleeding, hematemesis, and bleeding from mucous membranes. Organ failure, shock, and multi-organ dysfunction are certain to be fatal if the disease has developed.
Transmission of Marburg virus infection occurs following exposure to the patient, body fluids, and fomites. It spreads after exposure to the infected mucous of the case or infected skin, saliva, blood, vomit, urine, faeces, breast milk, or semen. Transmission of nosocomial infection has also occurred in hospitals through unsterilized infection control equipment. It spreads with contact with infected animals, i.e., fruit bats and non-human primates. Physical contact with corpses of bodies of infected individuals during the death rituals increases the risk of transmission in epidemic areas.
Diagnosis and Clinical Treatment of Marburg Virus Disease
The Marburg virus disease needs an early diagnosis but proves to be difficult when it is mimicked by other infectious illnesses like malaria, typhoid fever, and other viral hemorrhagic fevers.
It is diagnosed in the laboratory by using the PCR test, ELISA, and viral isolation. It is treated by supportive clinical therapy only because no licensed antiviral drug has been synthesized. Aggressive supportive therapy should be demanded by patients such as hydration, correction of electrolyte disturbance, pain control, oxygenation, and infection control. Experimental therapy by using monoclonal antibody and antiviral drug is investigated.
Preventive Measures for Marburg Virus Disease
Prevention of disease due to Marburg virus is based on public health practice through active surveillance, early detection of cases, and containment.
Safety measures include restriction of contact with non-human primates and fruit bats in the endemic area. Donning and doffing of PPE by health workers in a sterile manner decrease risk of nosocomial transmission. Direct isolation and quarantine of a suspected case are safety measures preventing secondary spread. Community-level sensitization makes individuals ready to be as compassionate as possible towards safe burial and sanitation so that they may not be in danger. Long-term prevention is also ongoing to be built by vaccine production.
Global Level Impact of Marburg Virus Disease and Public Health Intervention
Marburg virus illness is a public health priority owing to its high mortality and level of epidemic. WHO and CDC are central to outbreak cases where surveillance, containing, and the coordination of international assistance are in place. In endemic country prepared response has the response teams, as well as lab diagnostic infrastructure. Enforcement at epidemiology and virology has other outbreaks controls, though where nearly nohealth system and limited resources, it introduces a level of restraint.
Conclusion
Marburg virus disease is an epidemic that needs to be closely watched and treated early in a bid to reduce the risk of the disease.
As much as there is increasing global awareness of the disease, further study of vaccine and antiviral therapy is needed. Upgraded health care infrastructure, adequate public education, and strict infection control are the key to control of morbidity of Marburg virus disease globally. In addition to strengthening and strengthening control against the newly emerging epidemic infectious diseases, the new paradigm for prevention and control of the ongoing epidemics will be the key to human success.
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