2024-10-03 13:12:02
Alarms about this disease were raised due to two suspected cases of the virus in Marburg, Germany. They present symptoms such as fever and vomiting. It is about a medical student who has just returned from Rwanda and his girlfriend. In this African country, 11 people have died from this disease and 36 have been infected. While the European authorities study the situation, given this Marburg virus is serious and often fatal.
Its mortality rate varies, as recorded by the WHO, between 24% and 88% depending on the viral strain and treatment. Furthermore, it is transmitted to humans by fruit tree bats, which are its natural host. The WHO clarifies this There are no vaccines or antiviral treatments. approved to treat the virus.
It owes its name to the fact that the first cases in Europe were identified in 1967, after being recorded simultaneously in Marburg, Frankfurt and the Serbian city of Belgrade. In the first outbreak, the source of infection was the African green monkey brought from Uganda. It has similarities with ebolabecause both are rare conditions and have similar clinical characteristics. And experts underline thisu the infectivity persists as long as there are viruses in the blood.
Forms of transmission and recommendations
The WHO specifies that the infection can occur due to prolonged stay in mines or caves inhabited by colonies of Rousettus bats. While transmission from one person to another occurs well having direct contact with injured skin, blood or secretions of the infected person. or for touch surfaces such as clothing or materials contaminated with body fluids. Cases of contagion have even occurred during funerals due to direct contact with the deceased. and contagion through contaminated needles It is associated with accelerated worsening and a higher mortality rate.
What are the symptoms?
The incubation period is between 2 and 21 days.
Fever, headache and great discomfort
muscle pain
Severe watery diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramps
Nausea and vomiting
Central nervous system involvement, confusion and irritability in severe stages
Severe manifestations after 5 or 7 days
spontaneous bleeding
In Europe, patients also showed a non-itchy skin rash 2 to 7 days after the onset of symptoms. Patients, in the words of healthcare professionals, have a “phantom apparition” due to the sunken eyes and lethargy they suffer from.
After 5-7 days, some type of bleeding may occur in the gums, vagina and, more rarely, inflammation of both testicles has been observed. More severe cases can cause bleeding in several organs. They also go through a phase of high fever.
Diagnosis and treatment
EMV can be confused with other diseases such as malaria or typhoid fever. For this reason, various diagnostic methods are used to confirm its presence. But the truth is that there are no vaccines or antiviral treatments approved to cure the virus. Experts point out that to increase the survival of infected people, maintenance therapy can be used, which consists of oral or intravenous rehydration and symptomatic treatment.
They could also be used, according to the WHO, “some monoclonal antibodies in development and some antivirals that have been used in clinical trials to treat Ebola, such as remdesivir and favipiravir. In May 2020, the European Medicines Agency granted marketing authorization to the vaccines Zabdeno (Ad26.ZEBOV) and Mvabea (MVA-BN-Filo) against EVM,” they indicate.
Persistence of EMV
It should be noted that the Marburg virus may persist in the organs of some convalescentssuch as the testicles and the inside of the eyes. In women infected during pregnancy, the virus has been detected in placenta, amniotic fluid or in breast milk. Its transmission through semen was documented even seven weeks after the patient’s clinical recovery.
Given the need to continue carrying out further studies on this disease, WHO focuses on prevention and early control in case of epidemics. The most recommended is be careful.
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