The Ministry of Health of the Valencian Community has activated the protocol in the event of a suspected case of marburg virus. It’s about a 34 year old male patient who has recently been in Equatorial Guinea, where a few days ago an outbreak of this viral diseasesimilar to ebola.
The man presents symptoms compatible with the disease, which it is serious, often fatal, and has no vaccine. The affected person was in the African country for a period of time that could correspond to the incubation and development of the pathology. The patient’s biological samples have already been sent to the reference laboratory of the Carlos III Health Institute of Madrid for the possible confirmation of the case, as reported by the ‘conselleria’.
The patient has been transferred from a private hospital and is admitted to the High Level Isolation Unit of the La Fe University and Polytechnic Hospital in Valenciawhich guarantees the safety of both your care and the protection of the health professionals who treat you.
What is the Marburg virus?
The Marburg virus (MARV) belongs to the genus Marburgvirus of the Filoviridae family and causes the so-called Marburg hemorrhagic fever. Among other symptoms, and as your man indicates, this virus causes severe viral hemorrhagic fever. Regarding the average fatality rate, it oscillates around 50%. During recent outbreaks, these rates have ranged from 24% to 88% depending on the viral strain and the treatment of the cases.
Rehydration and rapid administration of treatment symptomatic improve survival. No treatment has been shown to be effective in neutralizing this virus, although several immunological, pharmacological, and blood-based treatments are under development.
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It is considered that the natural host of the Marburg virus it’s the fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus, family Pteropodidae). The virus is transmitted from these bats to humans and spreads between them directly.
How it is transmitted
Human infection by this virus is due to prolonged stay in mines or caves inhabited by colonies of Rousettus bats. The main route of transmission of the virus is direct contact with broken skin, mucosa with blood or other bodily fluids of the affected person, such as secretions. It also spreads through surfaces and materials contaminated with these liquids, such as personal clothing or bedding. For this reason, the case that is being investigated in Valencia is being treated in a specialized isolation unit that prevents possible contagion to the health personnel who treat it.