It is a serious illness and the patient, a 34-year-old man, is already isolated in a special unit of the hospital
The Ministry of Health has activated the protocol in the event of a suspected case of suffering from the disease Marburg virus. This is a 34-year-old male patient. who recently was in Equatorial Guinea where an outbreak of this viral disease, similar to Ebola, was detected a few days ago. This pathology is serious and often fatal.
The patient’s biological samples have 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 Ministry.
This is a 34-year-old male presenting symptoms compatible with the disease and that he was in the African country for a period of time that could correspond to the incubation and development of the disease.
The patient has been transferred from a private hospital and is admitted to the High Level Isolation Unit of the University Hospital and Polytechnic Faith of Valencia, which guarantees the safety of both your care and the protection of the health professionals who treat you, since the main route of transmission of the virus It is direct contact with the injured skin, mucous membranes with blood or other body fluids of the affected person.
What is the Marburg virus?
According to the WHO, this virus causes serious viral hemorrhagic fever in humans.
The average fatality rate of the disease is 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.
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.
The participation of the population is essential to control outbreaks.
How it is transmitted
Initially, human infection by this virus is due to prolonged stay in mines or caves inhabited by colonies of Rousettus bats. Transmission between people occurs by direct contact of broken skin or mucous membranes with blood, secretions, organs or other body fluids of infected people, as well as with surfaces and materials contaminated with said liquids, such as personal clothing or bedding. 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.