Marburg virus. The name itself sounds like something you want to forget as soon as possible. But beware - it's not just a name. It is one of the most dangerous pathogens known, with mortality rates sometimes reaching a staggering 88 %. Yes, you read that right – 88 %. It means that more than eight out of ten infected people do not survive. Although it may not make global headlines as often as some other diseases, this invisible enemy is always ready to surprise. The virus most likely appeared in Germany today. More information to follow.
Infection with Marburg virus it's like a bolt from the blue - no warning, no mercy. It starts with a high fever, as if the body wants to deal with something invisible and overwhelming. The headaches are indescribable, so strong that you feel like your skull is going to explode. Muscle and joint pains join in, as if someone is hitting you with an iron rod from all sides. Sound terrible? Wait, that's not all. There is nausea that does not let you rest, vomiting and unstoppable diarrhea. Your body is fighting but it can't - you look like a ghost, with deep sunken eyes and an expressionless face, completely exhausted.
Update: The virus appeared today in Hamburg / Germany... More at this link
But the real nightmare is just beginning. Bleeding occurs a few days after the first symptoms. And this is not an innocent nosebleed that can be easily stopped with a tissue. You're bleeding from your eyes, nose, mouth, and even body openings you may not have known you had. You vomit blood, blood appears in the stool. You are in agony. And at this point, many patients give up. For many, this is a fateful moment.
The script, like from the movie Outbreak
Although it sounds like science fiction, an outbreak of the Marburg virus could lead to a scenario similar to those seen in Hollywood movies such as Outbreak. Imagine a city that suddenly becomes the focus of a deadly virus, health services are overwhelmed, people flee infected areas in panic, thus only accelerating the spread of the disease. The military is forced to establish a quarantine while scientists race against time to find a cure. Such a scenario is not far from reality, as viruses like Marburg require extremely fast action and global cooperation to prevent catastrophe.
How does the virus attack?
The Marburg virus belongs to the same family as the better known Ebola. Both are part of the famous family of filoviruses, which with their spiral shape resemble evil snakes ready to attack. The transmission of the virus takes place directly - from body to body. If you touch the blood, sweat, urine or secretions of an infected person, you are already at risk. The virus enters through damaged skin or mucous membranes (mouth, nose, eyes). Items such as bedding and clothing that have been in contact with an infected person are also particularly dangerous.
But beware! Marburg is not transmitted through the air. You're not going to get infected by standing next to someone who sneezed for a few minutes. Airborne transmission, typical of colds or flu, does not play a role here. What is so dangerous about Marburg is precisely the intimacy of the contact. It is transmitted through the most personal things - blood, saliva, sweat. Even sexual relations with an infected person can be deadly. The virus can remain in the semen of an infected person for several weeks or even months.
Symptoms that won't let you sleep
The illness starts out similar to the flu, but quickly escalates into something much more deadly. At the beginning, you get a high fever, nausea, vomiting and severe diarrhea. But what makes Marburg so unique? Its ability to cause bleeding, and not just internally. You can bleed from the nose, gums, even eyes! These symptoms are so characteristic that scientists have described those infected in the worst stages of the disease as 'ghosts' - with deeply sunken eyes, tortured facial expressions and utter exhaustion.
What are your options?
Mortality in Marburg disease is very high, but not always the same. Between individual outbreaks, the fatality rate can vary from 24 % to 88 %. Many times this depends on quick response and medical care. The more the outbreak is contained and the infected are isolated, the better the chance of survival.
What can we do?
Unfortunately, there is still no effective vaccine against the Marburg virus. Treatment is currently limited to supportive therapy: fluid intake, electrolytes and symptom relief. It is important to act as quickly as possible - recognizing the symptoms and immediately isolating the infected are key to preventing the spread of the virus. Experts are researching new therapies, including drugs originally developed to treat Ebola. These drugs could also be effective against Marburg, but further research is needed.
Marburg vs. SARS and MERS: Respiratory viruses
While Marburg mainly attacks the blood and digestive system, SARS and MERS are respiratory viruses that cause acute respiratory problems. SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome) have both caused minor pandemics and have a much lower fatality rate than Marburg. SARS had a death rate of about 10 %, and MERS had a somewhat higher death rate of about 34 %. Even so, MERS is still a much lower threat compared to Marburg, which, as mentioned earlier, can kill more than 80 % infected.
A key difference is also in the mode of transmission: SARS and MERS are transmitted mainly through airborne droplets, which means that pandemics of these two viruses are potentially more explosive but less deadly. Marburg, on the other hand, requires direct contact with infected bodily fluids, which somewhat limits the spread, but increases mortality.
Why should you care about Marburg virus?
You might think of this virus as a distant threat reserved for the African continent. But the truth is that we have already recorded cases of infection outside of Africa. In 2008, an American tourist fell ill after visiting a cave in Uganda where infected bats live. The World Health Organization (WHO) warned in 2023 that the risk of the spread of the Marburg epidemic was increasing and that it could become one of the pathogens that would cause the next pandemic.
How to protect yourself?
The best way to protect yourself is to avoid risky areas, especially caves and mines, where infected bats live, which are the main carriers of the virus. If you travel to endemic areas, be extremely careful. Avoid contact with wild animals, use protective equipment and strictly observe hygiene measures.
Marburg virus is like an invisible predator. It lingers in the shadows until it strikes without warning. Although it is not as well known as some other diseases, it has the power to take an unimaginable number of lives with it. But don't worry too much - with the right measures and timely help, we can overcome it.