The Marburg virus has reemerged in parts of Africa, raising concerns. A recent outbreak in Rwanda has resulted in thirteen deaths and 58 confirmed infections, one of the biggest Marburg outbreaks ever documented. In 2008, a Dutch woman even passed away due to the virus. So, how dangerous is the Marburg virus, and how is it transmitted?
From mild infections like dengue to more serious threats like mpox, just as the world recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, new viruses are surfacing. However, Martin Grobusch, professor of tropical medicine at Amsterdam UMC and member of the Amsterdam institute for Immunology and Infectious diseases, reassures us that we do not need to worry about another pandemic.
What is the Marburg Virus?
The Marburg virus is part of the filovirus family, which also includes Ebola. It causes a severe illness known as Marburg virus disease, marked by symptoms like fever, muscle pain, and headaches, progressing to severe bleeding and organ failure. The virus spreads mainly through contact with blood, bodily fluids, or organs of infected individuals. It can also be transmitted through contact with infected animals, especially bats or primates.
Bats are the primary carriers of the Marburg virus. Prof. Grobusch explains, "You can get infected if you come into contact with an infected bat, consume fruit contaminated with bat saliva, or eat a bat (common in parts of Africa) that has not been properly cooked."
Human-to-human transmission occurs through direct contact with bodily fluids or excrement from an infected person. "This is similar to Ebola, which spreads the same way," Grobusch adds.
The Marburg Virus in Africa
In Rwanda, an outbreak of the virus has resulted in thirteen deaths and 58 confirmed infections. The Marburg virus is closely related to Ebola and is considered one of the world’s most dangerous viruses. "They are genetically similar, share the same hosts (bats), and originate from the same regions (West, Central, and East Africa)," says Prof. Grobusch. In Ghana, two infections were reported in late June, both resulting in death.
The public may remember the devastating Ebola outbreak from 2013 to 2016 in West Africa, where countries like Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia were severely impacted. Around 28,000 people were infected, with 12,000 deaths. A key difference, however, is that Ebola outbreaks tend to be much larger than those of Marburg.
No Pandemic Risk
Despite the outbreaks, Prof. Grobusch assures us that the Marburg virus is unlikely to cause a pandemic. "A virus needs to spread easily from person to person to trigger a pandemic, which is not the case here, as you need direct contact with bodily fluids," he explains. He also notes that the number of infections remains low, and early detection can prevent widespread outbreaks.
"Authorities in the Netherlands, including hospitals, doctors, and the RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment), are closely monitoring the situation," says Prof. Grobusch. Hygiene protocols are in place, especially for travelers returning from affected areas. So, there is no reason for concern at this time.
2022: Marburg Outbreak in Ghana
In 2022, we published an article where Prof. Grobusch shared his insights on the Marburg virus following Ghana's first recorded outbreak. Three members of the same household were infected, with two fatalities. In June of this year, two additional cases were reported in Ghana. Read the full article on the Marburg virus in Ghana here.
This article is a revised version of an article originally published in Dutch on Metronieuws.nl.