The Marburg virus is very similar to the Ebola and it has the same filamentous structure. It is usually found in Egyptian fruit bats, and it is almost impossible to determine which animals have the disease since they do not show any symptoms. However, if they do come into contact with the bodily fluids of humans or monkeys, the infection can spread.
The virus is very dangerous and it comes with symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, high fever and headaches. It can also get worse and cause bleeding or rashes. This virus is especially menacing since it can kill.
Theoretically, half of the persons who are infected with the virus die, but in reality, the mortality rates are higher than that. In 1967 there have been three outbreaks in Europe and one of them was in the Marburg city. After that year there have been twelve other outbreaks and there have been almost four hundred deaths. Most of those outbreaks were located across sub-Saharan Africa.
Marburg outbreak in Uganda
The bad news is that there is an outbreak in Uganda. Three people have already died and more than 100 are being monitored. Now, the health authorities are waiting for the 21-day incubation period to pass. If things go right and no other cases are reported, there is a chance that this outbreak will be over.
The outbreak has been handled by the Ugandan Ministry of Health, as well as groups like Médecins Sans Frontières, the World Health Organisation and UNICEF. Luckily, the response was a fast one and the outbreak should be under control. It remains to see if there will be other victims in the future, but hopefully, there won’t be more cases.
