A deadly virus called Marburg has made headlines after an outbreak was confirmed in Equatorial Guinea, a small country in Central Africa. The World Health Organization (WHO) has already reported at least nine deaths and is investigating more suspected cases.
If this sounds familiar, it's because Marburg is closely related to the Ebola virus. It spreads in a similar way and can be just as dangerous. Here's a breakdown of what you need to know.
What is the Marburg Virus?
Marburg virus likely comes from African fruit bats. People can get infected after spending time in places where these bats live, such as caves or mines. The virus was first discovered in 1967 in Europe, when lab workers became ill after working with monkeys brought from Uganda.
Once a person is infected, the virus can spread from human to human through direct contact with blood or other body fluids — or even by touching contaminated items like bedding or clothes. But here’s some good news: Marburg is **not** airborne.
What Are the Symptoms?
Symptoms show up quickly, and they can be severe. According to the WHO, people with Marburg often experience:
- High fever
- Intense headaches
- Extreme fatigue
- Muscle pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Bleeding (both inside and outside the body in severe cases)
In some cases, people also become confused or agitated. If the illness becomes fatal, it typically leads to death within 8–9 days due to severe blood loss and shock.
How Is It Treated?
There’s no vaccine or specific medicine for Marburg right now. But supportive care — like giving fluids, maintaining electrolytes, and closely monitoring the patient — can help lower the chances of death.
Where Is the Outbreak Happening?
The confirmed cases are in Kie-Ntem, a northern province in Equatorial Guinea. Samples from suspected cases were sent to a lab in Senegal for testing. Although Cameroon and Gabon (neighboring countries) also reported suspected cases, those were not confirmed as Marburg.
However, experts believe the number of actual cases might be much higher than reported. Equatorial Guinea has limited healthcare resources, which makes tracking and controlling the outbreak more difficult.
What’s Being Done?
WHO is working closely with local health authorities. They’re sending in medical experts, equipment, and protective gear. Teams that were trained for COVID-19 response are now helping with contact tracing to prevent further spread.
Neighboring countries like Cameroon and Gabon are also preparing in case the virus crosses borders.
Could This Spread Worldwide?
At the moment, the outbreak is regional, but viruses don’t respect borders. As we saw with Ebola in the past, a small outbreak can grow quickly if not controlled early.
Experts say that Marburg isn't an immediate concern for countries like Canada, but we should still pay attention. Outbreaks are becoming more common around the world, and early action is key to preventing global health threats.
Final Thoughts
Even though Marburg is rare, it’s extremely dangerous. The current outbreak reminds us how important global cooperation is in stopping diseases before they spread. While Canadians aren’t at risk right now, this is a moment to care — both because lives are at stake and because diseases in one part of the world can affect us all.
Source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/uganda-hospital-worker-dies-of-marburg-…
Comments