Marburg Virus.

Tags: Science and Technology

Marburg Virus.

Why in the news?

• The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a warning for theMarburg virus, a kin to the Ebola virus, along with Mpox and Oropouche fever, that it is spreading in 17 countries.

About Marburg Virus:

• “The Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) is a rare animal-borne disease that can cause fatal outbreaks with high mortality rates.
•  Earlier outbreaks were reported due to laboratory work with African green monkeys from Uganda.” 
• According toWHO, the average fatality rate is around 50%.
• This virusoriginated by spending time in mines or caves inhabited by Rousettus fruit bat colonies.
• Once a human is infected, transmissions can occur via bodily fluids, such as urine, saliva, faeces, vomit, breastmilk, amniotic fluid or semen.
• It can also be passed on via objects that are contaminated with body fluids from an infected individual.