What is Marburg virus disease? Marburg virus disease, also known as Marburg hemorrhagic fever, is an infection caused by the Marburg virus, which first appeared in 1967 in two laboratories in Marburg and Frankfurt, Germany, and Belgrade, Yugoslavia. The virus causes severe viral hemorrhagic fever, mainly affecting the liver, spleen, and kidneys, and can lead to death if supportive care is not given promptly; however, in some cases, people infected with the virus recover without treatment.
What are the symptoms of Marburg virus?
Symptoms of Marburg virus disease include fever, headache, muscle pain, nausea and vomiting. In some cases, patients may also experience diarrhea, abdominal pain, chest pain, and a rash. The incubation period for the virus is usually between 5 and 10 days. Notably, Marburg virus can be spread through contact with the bodily fluids or tissues of an infected person or animal. Transmission also includes direct contact with the blood, vomit, feces or saliva of an infected person or animal, and through contact with objects contaminated with these fluids.
People can contract Marburg virus through contact with infected bats or monkeys. The virus can also be spread through contact with infected bodily fluids, such as blood or secretions from the mouth, nose, or eyes. Symptoms of Marburg virus disease include fever, headache, muscle pain, and chills. In some cases, people may also experience vomiting, diarrhea, and bleeding from the eyes, nose, or mouth. There is no specific treatment for Marburg virus disease, and patients usually receive supportive care to help them manage their symptoms.
According to the CDC, measures to prevent secondary or human-to-human transmission are similar to those used for other hemorrhagic fevers. If a patient is suspected or confirmed to have Marburg virus disease (MVD), infection prevention and control measures should be taken to prevent direct physical contact with the patient. These precautions include wearing protective clothing, gloves and masks. If you want to pursue a higher level of protection, it is best to wear a professional N95 mask.
Great article! It may be worth noting that all the qualities discussed in the video means that N95 “masks” are really respirators—subject to all the OSHA requirements for respirators when used in a workplace, including a fit test and a medical fitness test annually.