Study: Ghana declares first outbreak of Marburg virus disease. Image credit: ANDREI ASKIRKA/Shutterstock
What is Marburg virus disease (MVD)?
MVD is caused by Marburg virus, a genetically unique zoonotic virus that can infect both human and nonhuman primates. This RNA virus belongs to the filovirus family that causes a rare but serious hemorrhagic fever. Other members of this family include the Ebola virus. Marburg virus was first discovered in 1967, when an outbreak of hemorrhagic fever occurred in laboratories in Germany (Marburg and Frankfurt) and Serbia (Belgrade). During this outbreak, many laboratory workers and their family members contracted the disease and seven of them died. Scientists have reported that the African fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) is the reservoir host of the Marburg virus. Fruit bats infected with Marburg virus show no telltale symptoms.
MVD transmission
Previous studies have shown that infected African fruit bats transmitted the disease to the human host. These studies reported that in 2008, two tourists contracted MVD in Uganda after being exposed to contaminated bat feces or aerosols, which are the possible routes of infection. After the initial crossing of the virus from the zoonotic host to humans, the infection was transmitted through person-to-person contact. Scientists reported that MVD was spread through the blood or bodily fluids (semen, saliva, tears, etc.) of the infected person to a healthy person. Contaminated surfaces and materials can also transmit infection. The virus remains viable in some body fluids, such as semen, even after the patient has recovered from MVD and has no symptoms.
MVD outbreak in Ghana and WHO
According to the WHO report, the Pasteur Institute in Dakar, Senegal received two samples from patients from the southern Ashanti region of Ghana. Both patients were unrelated and died. Before death, these patients reported symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea. The lab analyzed the samples and their results were similar to reports from the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, which confirmed that both patients were infected with MVD. Both patients were male, one patient was 26 years old and the other 51 years old. Both patients were admitted, at almost the same time, to the same hospital and given similar treatments. WHO has linked up with a research team in the Ashanti region and the Ghanaian health authorities. WHO supports them by strengthening disease surveillance, contact tracing, providing personal protective equipment and educating them about the risks and dangers of the disease. Under the current scenario, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said that health authorities have responded effectively to the possibility of an MVD outbreak. This fast response was necessary because MVD could emit at a higher rate. As the Government of Ghana announced the outbreak of MVD, WHO continues to provide full support with resources to combat the situation. About 90 people have been identified with MVD and are being monitored. Previously, sporadic outbreaks of MVD have been reported in Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola. WHO has also alerted neighboring countries at high risk of MVD outbreaks.
Treatment of MVD
The researchers reported that many MVD patients may develop severe bleeding symptoms within seven days of infection. Although there are no suitable vaccines or drugs available to treat MVD, rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids and treatments for specific symptoms improve the survival rate. Currently, several potential treatments, including immunological and drug therapies and vaccine candidates, are being evaluated in phase 1 clinical trials.
