All About The Marburg Virus And Its Symptoms, Which Is A New Epidemic In The World

The Marburg virus has become a new epidemic in the world. There are several symptoms of the Marburg virus. In an official statement quoted by AFP, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Marburg is similar to Ebola, a virus that is quite deadly and has claimed many lives.

What is the marburg virus?

Marburg virus is not a new type of virus discovered in the world. This virus has been around since the 1967s. Where this virus was first known to attack laboratory workers in Germany who had contact with a green monkey brought from Uganda. This monkey is thought to be the host of the virus.

This virus is a very dangerous pathogen. And part of the filovirus or also known as Ebola. Before appearing as a symptom of the marburg virus, the host or reservoir of this virus was fruit bats that were widely distributed on the African mainland. This mammal will carry the Marburg virus and will not be known because this virus does not make bats sick.

In fact, it is through these animals that the virus can attack and spread to mammals such as monkeys and even humans. WHO noted, the spread of this virus may have started because of the slaughter of bats on the grounds of consumption.

Marburg virus prevention

Then how to prevent transmission of the Marburg virus?

According to WHO guidelines, the main way to prevent transmission of the Marburg virus is during work or research activities or tourist visits in mines or caves inhabited by fruit bat colonies, people should wear gloves and other appropriate protective clothing (including masks).

Meanwhile, during an epidemic, all animal products (blood and meat) must be thoroughly cooked before consumption. In addition, here are some steps to prevent transmission of symptoms of the Marburg virus:

Transmission of Marburg virus symptoms:

1.  Reduce the risk of human-to-human transmission in the community arising from direct or close contact with infected patients, especially with their body fluids.
2. Close physical contact with the Marburg patient should be avoided. Gloves and appropriate personal protective equipment should be worn when caring for sick patients at home.
3. Regular hand washing should be done after visiting sick relatives in the hospital, as well as after caring for sick patients at home.
4. Outbreak containment measures include prompt, safe and dignified burials.
5. Identify people who may have been in contact with someone infected with Marburg and monitor their health for 21 days
6. Separating the healthy from the sick to prevent further spread and providing care to confirmed patients and maintaining good hygiene and a clean environment need to be observed.

Symptoms of marburg virus

Transmission can also occur through objects that have been contaminated with the patient's body fluids. For example, bedding, clothes, and other objects that have been exposed. It takes two to 21 days for this virus to start showing symptoms of exposure in the human body.

Usually, according to WHO, a person who is exposed will experience the following symptoms of the Marburg virus:

• sudden high fever
• severe headache
• muscle ache
• vomit
• to diarrhea.

This symptom is difficult to distinguish between the Marburg virus and other diseases such as typhoid or malaria.

Until the next symptom, a person affected by Marburg on the fifth or seventh day will experience heavy bleeding such as vomiting blood, bloody stools, and bleeding in the nose, gums, and even the vagina. During the severe phase of the disease, patients may also experience Marburg virus symptoms such as:

• high fever
• confusion
• easy to get angry
• as well as orchitis (inflammation of the testicles) have been reported in the late phase (15 days).

Those are some explanations about the Marburg Virus that you should know. Hopefully it will add to your insight about the virus so that you can prevent it and if it is exposed you can swiftly treat it. Thank you Healthy Greetings!