Marburg Virus Disease (MVD)

GS II-Health

Context:

Tanzania has officially declared the conclusion of its second outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) after completing 42 days without reporting new cases, marking a significant achievement in controlling the deadly infection.

Understanding Marburg Virus Disease (MVD):

First Identified: 1967, in Marburg, Germany, when laboratory workers were exposed to infected African green monkeys imported from Uganda.
Causative Agent: Marburg virus (MARV), a highly virulent RNA virus belonging to the Filoviridae family, closely related to the Ebola virus.
Natural Host: The African fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) carries the virus asymptomatically, serving as a reservoir in the wild.

How Marburg Virus Spreads?

Zoonotic Transmission: Humans can contract the virus through direct exposure to infected bats or by consuming contaminated food and handling infected animals.
Human-to-Human Transmission:

• Direct contact with bodily fluids (blood, saliva, vomit, urine, feces) of infected individuals.
• Indirect transmission via contaminated surfaces, clothing, and medical equipment used by patients.

Symptoms of Marburg Virus Disease:

Early Symptoms: High fever, chills, severe headaches, muscle pain, rash, nausea, diarrhea.
Severe Stage: Liver failure, internal bleeding, shock, multi-organ failure, and in severe cases, death.

Is There a Cure?

No specific antiviral treatment or vaccine is currently available.
Supportive Care Includes:

• Fluid and electrolyte replacement to prevent dehydration.
• Oxygen therapy for respiratory distress.
• Blood transfusions to manage severe bleeding and improve survival chances.

About Tanzania:

Location: East Africa, situated south of the Equator.
Capital City: Dodoma (while Dar es Salaam remains the largest commercial hub).
Neighboring Countries: Borders Uganda, Kenya (north), Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia (south), Rwanda, Burundi, and DR Congo (west).

Geographic Highlights:

Mountains: Home to Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895m), Africa’s tallest peak.
Major Lakes: Shares Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, and Lake Nyasa.
Rift Valleys: Hosts sections of the Great Rift Valley, forming deep geological depressions.
Rivers: Important water bodies include the Nile, Congo, Zambezi, and Indian Ocean rivers such as Rufiji, Ruvuma, and Pangani.

Conclusion:

The containment of Tanzania’s second Marburg outbreak highlights the importance of early detection, stringent infection control measures, and public health interventions in combating deadly zoonotic diseases. Strengthening global response strategies and advancing vaccine research remain critical to preventing future outbreaks.