Marburg virus

Marburg virus is a fatal disease which can be caused due to close contact with one of the species of fruit bats. Body fluids transferred through unprotected sex or a lesion can cause this disease to pass on from one person to another. Bleeding (hemorrhage) fever is a result of this disease. Marburg virus’s symptoms and Ebola symptoms are similar in nature. There are no medications or vaccinations available to cure the Marburg virus, as per the World Health Organization (WHO), however seeking medical advice during the initial symptoms may increase the life expectancy.
The disease had two massive outbreaks in Marburg and Frankfurt in Germany. It was also reported in Belgrade, Serbia in the year 1967. A continuous exposure to mines or caves which have Rousettus bat colonies resulted in widespread infection. The infection can also be transferred by coming in contact with the bedding and clothing surfaces of people suffering from this disease.
The Marburg virus has a fatality ratio of 88%, as reported by theWHO. Like the Ebola virus, the Marburg virus also belongs to the Filoviridae family (filovirus).
The upsurge of Marburg virus was first discovered by examining the bodies of the African green monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) in the laboratory. These monkeys were transferred from Uganda. In 2008, two travelers were reported with this disease, they had visited a cave which was occupied by Rousettus bat colonies of Uganda.