Running head: MARBURG

Marburg
Jennifer Dittoe
ITT-Technical Institute - Merrillville

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Marburg
Virus Classification
Group
Group - V
Order
Mononegavirales
Family
Filoviridae
Genus
Marburgvirus
Species
Marburg marburgvirus

Marburg marburgvirus, also known as the Marburg Virus, is a severe hemorrhagic fever
originally identified during a severe outbreak in the cities of Marburg and Frankfurt, Germany
during the late 1960s (CDC, 2014). The Marburg Virus has a fatality rate of 23-90% amongst
documented cases (CDC, 2014). Marburg is highly contagious if the correct precautions are not
taken when it is known that you are working with infected animals or patients. In 2005, a severe
Marburg epidemic was noted in the Uige Province, Angola, Africa (WHO, 2015). The natural
source of the virus is still unknown (CDC, 2014).
When the Marburg virus was first encountered in 1967, scientists did not know where it
came from or how it was transmitted. They were quite lucky that the outbreak occurred in two
scientific labs that were attempting to make more polio vaccines. Since the outbreak occurred
simultaneously in the separate labs, it was easier for investigators to narrow down the common
factors in each case. Ultimately, it was discovered that the new virus originate from a group of
African green monkeys that had been imported from Africa the same family of monkeys, split
between two labs (WebMD, 2015). Having figured out where the virus came from, the scientists
needed to narrow down the routes of transmission.
Over the years, and through vigorous testing, scientists discovered that the portal of entry
for the Marburg virus is by direct contact with the blood, body fluids and tissues of infected

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persons. Infection has also been known to occur from handling sick or dead animals monkeys
and fruit bats from Africa (WHO, 2015). The initial host of Marburg virus is the African fruit bat,
Rousettus aegyptiacus. Fruit bats that are known to be infected, do not to show signs of any
illness. All primates can become infected with Marburg virus, and develop a serious disease with
a high rate of death. Further study is needed to determine if other species may also host the virus.
Once a person has become infected with the virus, signs and symptoms can occur between 5 and
10 days (CDC, 2014).
The signs and symptoms of a Marburg infection are quite severe. After the initial
inoculation, patients will develop a sudden chills, fever, headaches, and muscle pains (WebMD,
2015). Patients will eventually develop a rash that can cover their chest, back and stomach
followed by nausea, vomiting, chest pain, sore throat, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. As time
passes, patients become more and more critical by developing jaundice, inflammation of the
pancreas, severe weight loss, delirium, shock, liver failure, massive hemorrhaging, and multiorgan dysfunction (WebMD, 2015).
A specific treatment for the Marburg virus is still unknown. Hospitals and medical staff
try and treat each symptom that is presented. Patients are usually set up with intravenous fluids
and electrolytes, oxygen therapies, and replacement of any lost blood and extra clotting factors
(WebMD, 2015). Medical staff also will combat any infections that may occur while the patient
is undergoing care. The World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention have developed a manual, "Infection Control for Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers In the
African Health Care Setting" to assist any medical teams that have a confirmed case of the
Marburg virus (WebMD, 2015).

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Since there is still very limited knowledge on the Marburg virus, prevention methods
against transmission are still undergoing testing but professionals are able to help combat
secondary transmissions but utilizing techniques for any other hemorrhagic virus (WebMD,
2015). A fuller understanding of the Marburg hemorrhagic fever will not be possible until the
ecology and identity of the virus reservoir are determined. The impact of the disease will remain
unknown until the actual occurrence of the disease and its endemic areas are discovered.

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References
CDC. (2014, October 13). Marburg hemorrhagic fever. Retrieved from Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/marburg/
WebMD. (2015). Marburg Hemorrhagic Fever. Retrieved from WebMD:
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/marburg-hemorrhagic-fever?page=2
WHO. (2015). Marburg Virus Disease. Retrieved from World Health Organization:
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/marburg/en/