Marburg virus, which makes eyes bleed, resurfaces again: Know more

The deadly Marburg disease has reappeared in African countries like Rwanda and Tanzania, reportedly raising the death toll. The virus, which is also known as the bleeding eyes virus, is highly contagious with severe symptoms and a high fatality rate. Around 15 people have died recently in Rwanda and Tanzania due to the Marburg virus. One of the prominent symptoms of the disease is conjunctivital and nasal bleeding. The virus claims lives by stopping the functioning of the internal organs. It causes damage to the blood vessels, resulting in internal bleeding. The fatality rate of this disease is between 24 – 88 per cent, making Marburg disease one of the deadliest diseases. The virus belongs to the filoviridae family of Ebola. However, Marburg is more dangerous than the Ebola virus that had wreaked havoc in Africa years ago. Severe headache, muscle pain and fever are some of the symptoms of the Marburg virus.

Symptoms of Marburg
The symptoms would begin to appear from two to twenty-one days after the virus enters the body. The patient might have vomiting, dysentery and stomach pain from the third day onwards. Patients with severe weight loss, extreme lethargy and sunken eyes are described to have ‘ghost – like’ features and facial expressions. Meanwhile, the bleeding starts from 5 – 7 days. Bloody stool and vomit are other common symptoms. Patients may also get short-tempered and feel confused. Swollen testicles are also reported in the final stages of the disease. The patient’s condition may deteriorate from the ninth day onwards, leading to death.

How Marburg virus spreads
The virus spreads to human beings from fruit-eating bats. Meanwhile, human-to-human transmission happens via direct contact with blood, secretions and other bodily fluids. It is difficult to differentiate the symptoms of Marburg virus from other viral fevers. Antigen capture detection tests, ELISA tests, and RT – PCR tests are some of the diagnostic tests to confirm the Marburg virus. However, no vaccines or anti-viral treatments are available to prevent the virus.