Marburg virus Introduction Marburg virus is a rare but deadly virus. It's named after the city in Germany, where it was first discovered in 1967. To humans, contact with infected monkeys or apes transmitted Marburgvirus to humans, which can be found in Africa and Asia. There are four types of Marburgvirus: one that affects humans only; two that affect both monkeys and humans; and two that affect only monkeys. Humans who contract one of these types will typically experience fever, headache, muscle aches and pains, nausea/vomiting, diarrhoea or abdominal cramps followed by death within 3-8 days. Causes Marburg virus is a hemorrhagic fever virus that causes severe illness in humans, including vomiting and diarrhoea. The symptoms of Marburg infection can be very similar to those of Ebola, but there are differences in the way people get infected with Marburg compared to how they get infected with Ebola. For example: You don't need direct contact with an infected person's bodily fluids or secretions; you just need to breathe in their airborne droplets as they pass through the air (like when someone sneezes). Unlike Ebola and Lassa viruses, which are spread through direct contact with sick individuals' bodily fluids or secretions (e.g., urine), the Marburg virus cannot be spread this way; instead, it spreads via inhalation of airborne droplets produced by coughing or sneezing after someone has been infected with it—and these tiny particles contain infectious agents just waiting for a new host! Signs You may be able to spot the signs of the Marburg virus in an infected person by observing their behaviour. Breathing difficulty Vomiting Muscle pain can be severe and last several days or weeks. This is particularly likely if you were exposed to the virus while caring for someone who had been sick with Ebola disease (EBV). If you work with people who have been infected with EBV, contact your employer about proper protective gear for yourself and others working around you, such as gloves and eye protection. If you have never been exposed to EBV before, take precautions anyway—for example, cover your face when hand washing as well as when using public restrooms; don't shake hands with anyone whose hands it may cover with blood from cuts on their fingers; avoid contact sports such as soccer because they could expose others who participate in those activities without knowing it Symptoms The most common symptoms of Marburg virus infection include: Dizziness, which may be severe and last for several days. Fatigue may last up to one week after the illness has resolved. Headaches can persist for days or weeks after the illness has resolved. Other potential signs and symptoms include * Nausea or vomiting; this is more common in younger children than adults (up to 60%). * Diarrhea; this tends to occur within 24 hours of disease onset and lasts several days on average (usually shorter in older adults). Treatment Supportive treatment: This is the first line of defence for patients with Marburg virus infection. The principal goal of supportive care is to prevent complications and help keep your immune system strong. Symptomatic treatment: When symptoms of Marburg virus infection develop, they can be treated with antiviral medications like ribavirin or interferon-alpha (INF-A). Prevention Avoid contact with animals. The virus is passed from animals to humans, who can then pass it back to other people—so avoid touching or feeding wild animals. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for 20 seconds, or at least 10 minutes, if you are sick and don't feel like cleaning yourself properly. If you think someone else may have been exposed to the virus, ask them to do the same thing before touching you; this should help prevent infection from being passed up the chain of command! Use a condom when having sex (or masturbating) if both partners are infected; this significantly reduces the risk of spreading HIV/AIDS through sexual contact.* Avoid kissing anyone who might have had direct contact with the Marburg virus during their time inside our facility.* Avoid sharing needles or syringes.* Avoid sharing razors.* Do not share towels unless they're clean ones without any blood on them first...because otherwise, we could all get sick again soon enough, anyway? Marburg virus is rare but deadly. The Marburg virus is a rare but deadly virus. It’s also known as Marburg haemorrhagic fever and is a member of the Filoviridae family, which includes Ebola and Lassa viruses. The Marburg virus causes Marburg haemorrhagic fever (MHF) and can cause severe illness and death in humans. MHF was first identified in 1967 when it caused five deaths in Uganda. Since then, there have been an estimated 25 cases worldwide with an average case fatality rate of 70%. Most people infected with MHF experience only mild symptoms or no symptoms at all; however, some patients develop severe illnesses including shock, coagulopathy (low blood clotting), bleeding into muscle tissue and kidney failure due to thrombocytopenia (reduced number of platelets). Conclusion Marburg virus is a rare but deadly disease. Symptoms include fever, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea. There is no cure for Marburg infection, so patients are treated with supportive care and may need to be admitted to the hospital for treatment of complications such as dehydration, kidney failure or blood clotting disorders.
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