It has been almost five years since news of the spread of Covid-19 swept the world. As we approach 2025, another virus is making noise. The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning about the Marburg virus, a relative of the Ebola virus, as well as Mpox and Oropouche fever, that it is spreading in 17 countries.
Dr. Shashi Nath Jha, Chairman, Department of Ophthalmology, Sir Gangaram Hospital, Delhi, explains, “Marburg virus disease (MVD) is a rare animal-borne disease that can cause deadly outbreaks with a high mortality rate. Outbreaks have previously been reported as a result of laboratory work involving African green monkeys from Uganda.’ According to WHO, the average mortality rate is about 50%.
This virus originated while in mines or caves inhabited by colonies of Rousettus fruit bats. If a person is infected, transmission can occur through bodily fluids such as urine, saliva, faeces, vomitus, breast milk, amniotic fluid or semen,” explains Dr Shalmali Inamdar, Consultant Adult Infectious Diseases Physician, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital , Mumbai. . It can also be transmitted through objects contaminated with the body fluids of an infected person.
Watch for the following symptoms:
- Sudden increase in temperature, chills and headache.
- Nausea, vomiting along with abdominal pain, diarrhea, muscle pain
- Chest pain and sore throat
- Bleeding from the eyes has also been reported to have led to the nickname “bleeding eye virus”.
- A nonpruritic rash has been reported in patients 2 to 7 days after the onset of symptoms.
- Bleeding from the nose, gums and vagina can be noticed from the 5th day.
- Late-stage inflammation of one or both testicles has occasionally been reported.
- Severe cases can lead to jaundice, pancreatitis, delirium, shock, liver failure, massive bleeding, and multiple organ dysfunction.
- In fatal cases, death usually occurs between 8 and 9 days after the onset of symptoms, usually preceded by profuse blood loss and shock
Prevention method
- Personal protective equipment (PPE): use of gloves, masks, and gowns when interacting with potentially infected people.
- Infection control measures: Proper hand hygiene, sterilization of equipment, and careful disposal of waste are critical.
- Avoiding infected animals: People should avoid contact with fruit bats or primates in endemic regions.
- Vaccination: There is no licensed vaccine yet, but there are promising experimental vaccines being tested.
Treatment
There are no vaccines or antiviral treatments for MVD. Patients are given supportive care such as rehydration and electrolyte balance as specific symptoms are treated, which can help prevent death and improve survival rates. Experimental treatment may be chosen, as there are monoclonal antibodies, antiviral drugs, and vaccines that are undergoing clinical trials but not yet approved.
Are the Indians taking chances?
“This disease is of no concern to Indians as it is mainly contained in Africa. However, precautions should be taken when traveling to affected countries. Similarly, immigrants from these countries should be isolated and tested for the virus when they show symptoms,” says Dr Shashi Nath Jha, head of ophthalmology at Sir Gangaram Hospital, Delhi.
Agreeing that the threat to Indians is currently low, Dr. Inamdar shares, “When you travel to infected areas, it is important to be vigilant. I believe that the government should continue monitoring [the international situation so that they can] deal with things in a more organized way when there is an outbreak.’
