New killer Marburg disease
Introduction:
The new killer Marburg virus is a disease that newly appears in
African areas, especially in Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea.
This disease is causing severe hemorrhagic fever that causes human
organs to be affected and death. This disease has a history of appearance and is
transmitted to humans and animals, especially African fruit bats. This outbreak
causes people to suffer and many deaths occur same as in the Covid-19 pandemic.
History of Marburg Disease:
This disease history started from the year 1967 in Germany and Yugoslavia that
apparent from Uganda that 31 cases reported and 7 deaths that occurred in
laboratory workers handling African green monkeys imported from Uganda. On 1975 in Johannesburg and south Africa the disease
occurred that apparent from Zimbabwe because of
traveling history from Zimbabwe and admitted to south Africa hospital the
nurses contact the patient effected and the patient died, and the nurses
extensively treated. The year of 1980 the disease appear in Kenya that cause of travel history
to visit cave in Kenya the patient died and the doctor treated him got the
disease but recovered. Also, in Kenya, one case died when visiting cave that
happened in the year of 1987. On 1990 one case only affected and died in Russia because
of laboratory contaminations. From 1998 till 2000 the
disease appeared in Democratic Republic of Congo because of workers at gold
mine in Durba that cause 154 cases effected and 128 deaths. Between 2004 to 2005 the effect of this disease rich to Angola
that started from Uige and 252 persons affected 227 deaths. In 2007, 4 cases were effected working in lead and gold
mine in Kamwenge District in Uganda and one only died. In 2008 two cases
effected because of traveling to Uganda one from Netherland and other person
from USA and only one person died from Netherlands. In 2012
by testing the disease identified for 15 cases in Kabale Uganda and 4 died. 2014, one fata case contact 197 persons that 8
developed symptoms same the disease but the test showed negative result that is
in Kampala Uganda region.
The year of 2017,
also blood test done from Kween District in Uganda that 4 affected cases and 3
deaths. In Guinea the in the year of 2021
reported one case effected and dead. In Ghana Ashanti Region family effected
from Murburg disease 3 effected and 2 deaths.
2023 the outbreak of Murburg disease confirmed in Equatorial Guinea and
Tanzania as mentioned in CDC and WHO.
Disease transmission:
Marburg disease is transmitted from African fruit bats living in a
cave to humans by contact. After that, the infected human can transmit the
infection to another human through broken skin, mucous membranes in the eyes,
nose, or mouth. Moreover, contaminated objects with body fluids from a sick
person can transmit the disease. Healthcare professionals must have full
precautions because of disease transmission that can be by equipment, needles
stick injuries or contact.
Diagnosis of Marburg disease:
The diagnosis of this disease can be by (ELISA) test that is
Antigen-capture enzyme-link immunosorbent assay, (PCR) polymerase chain
reaction and IgM-capture ELISA. These tests are used to diagnose the disease.
The sign and symptoms of Marburg disease:
The disease incubation period is from 2 to 21 days after that the
symptoms suddenly will start to have a fever, headache, and body pain. After
the symptoms appeared the patient also will suffer from rash mostly on the
chest, back, and stomach associated with nausea and vomiting, chest pain,
diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Later, the symptoms can be more severe causing
inflammation of the pancreas, weight loss severely, shock, liver failure,
organs dysfunctions, and severe bleeding and haemorrhage.
Treatment of the disease:
This disease is treated by maintaining body balance with fluid
therapy, monitoring oxygen concentration and blood pressure, blood replacements
with clotting factors, and managing any complications from infections.
The prevention of the Marburg disease:
The prevention of this disease can be by avoiding contact with
sick patients from body fluids and blood. Also, to avoid contact with the
materials and items used by the infected person. The health care professions
must have full precision when dealing with patients. Some animals must be
avoided like fruit bats may contact some animals like monkeys and chimpanzees.
Moreover, to avoid going to caves fruit bats live in them.