Context: Recently, Ghana has reported its first-ever suspected cases of Marburg Virus Disease.

Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) 

• Marburg virus is an infectious disease that can cause haemorrhagic fever.

• It is a severe disease in humans caused by marburgvirus(MARV). 

• The virus belongs to the same family (Filoviridae family) as the Ebola virus.

• Origin: The disease was first identified in 1967 in Germany’s Marburg and Frankfurt and Serbia’s Belgrade following two large outbreaks.

• Vector: Fruit bats are the key carriers of the disease. It typically infects humans following prolonged exposure to mines or caves inhabited by Rousettus bat colonies. 

• Previous outbreaks and sporadic cases of Marburg in Africa have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, South Africa and Uganda.

• Transmission: Marburg is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials.Its incubation period ranges from two days to three weeks. 

• Symptoms: High fever, severe headache and severe malaise accompanied by muscle aches and pains are some common symptoms of the disease. 

• Fatality Rate: Marburg is potentially very harmful and deadly. Case fatality rates in past outbreaks have ranged from 24% to 88%.

• Treatment: There are no specific vaccines or antiviral treatments to treat the disease. However, chances of survival improve significantly with the help of rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids and targeted symptom treatment.