Marburg virus: what it is, how it is transmitted and how to prevent the infectious disease detected again in Africa – BBC News World

Writing BBC News World17 minutesImage source, Getty ImagesAnother virus causes alarm in Africa.Two people in Ghana have died and another 98 have been quarantined due to the Marburg virus, raising fears of a massive outbreak of this highly infectious disease .The contagion causes fever, muscle aches, diarrhea, vomiting and, in many cases, death due to extreme blood loss. At BBC Mundo we tell you details about this disease and why it causes concern among health authorities. What is the virus of Marburg? A cousin of the equally deadly Ebola virus, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Marburg virus was first identified after 31 people became infected and seven died in simultaneous outbreaks in 1967 in Marburg and Frankfurt. , Germany, and in Belgrade, Serbia. The outbreak was attributed to monkeys imported from Uganda. But the virus has been linked to other animals ever since. And, among humans, it spreads pr primarily by people who have spent long periods in caves and mines populated by bats. But in Europe, only one person has died in the last 40 years, and another in the US, after returning from cave expeditions in Uganda. Source image, Getty ImagesCaption, The virus is transmitted to people through fruit bats. What have been the main outbreaks? This is the first outbreak in Ghana, but several African countries have had cases, including them: the Democratic Republic of the Congo A 2005 outbreak in Angola killed more than 300 people. According to the WHO, in addition to the first known outbreak in Europe, the main outbreaks of the disease have been reported in Africa and have been in: 2017, Uganda : three infections, three deaths2012, Uganda: 15 cases, four deaths2005, Angola: 374 cases, 329 deaths1998-2000, Congo: 154 cases, 128 deaths1967, Germany: 29 cases, seven deathsWhat are the symptoms?The virus begins abruptly with: im source agen, Getty Images This is often followed, three days later, by: “The appearance of patients in this phase has been described as showing ‘ghost-like’ features, deep-set eyes, expressionless faces and extreme lethargy,” says the WHO. Many people continue to bleed from various parts of the body and die eight to nine days after first getting sick, due to extreme blood loss and shock. On average, the virus kills half of those infected, says the WHO, but the most damaging strains have killed up to 88% of cases. How is it spread? The Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) is known to be one of the main transmitting agents of the virus. African green monkeys and pigs can also carry it. Image source Getty Images Caption The Marburg virus was first detected in the city of Marburg, Germany, in 1967. Among humans, it is spread through of body fluids and bedding contaminated with them. And even if people recover, their blood or semen, for example, can infect others for many months afterwards. How can it be treated? There is no vaccine or specific treatments for the virus. But a range of blood products, drugs and immune therapies are being developed, the WHO says. Image source Getty Images And doctors can alleviate symptoms by giving hospital patients plenty of fluids and replacing lost blood. can it be contained? People in Africa should avoid eating or handling bushmeat, says Gavi, an international organization that promotes access to vaccines. They should also avoid contact with c men in areas with an outbreak, WHO says. Men who have had the virus should use condoms for a year after symptoms appear or until their semen tests negative twice. And those who bury people who have died due to the virus they should avoid touching the body. Now you can receive notifications from BBC Mundo. Download the new version of our app and activate it so you don’t miss out on our best content.