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Rwanda says eight people have died so far from the Ebola-like Marburg virus, just days after it declared an outbreak of the deadly hemorrhagic fever that has no authorised vaccine or treatment.
Marburg virus
The Marburg virus originates in fruit bats and spreads between people through close contact with the bodily fluids
Marburg virus disease is a highly virulent disease that causes haemorrhagic fever, with a fatality ratio of up to 88%
It is in the same family as the virus that causes Ebola virus disease.
Two large outbreaks that occurred simultaneously in Marburg and Frankfurt in Germany, and in Belgrade, Serbia, in 1967, led to the initial recognition of the disease
The outbreak was associated with laboratory work using African green monkeys imported from Uganda.
Human infection with Marburg virus disease initially results from prolonged exposure to mines or caves inhabited by Rousettus bat colonies.
Rousettus is a genus of Old World fruit bats or megabats, sometimes referred to as dog-faced fruit bats, or flying foxes.
Symptoms: Headache, vomiting blood, muscle pains and bleeding through various orifices.
Diagnosis:
Since many of the disease's symptoms are similar to those of malaria and typhoid fever, making a diagnosis is difficult.
However, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) testing can be used to confirm a case.
Treatment:
There is no specific treatment or approved vaccine for Marburg hemorrhagic fever. Supportive hospital therapy should be utilized.
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