From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Marburg Virus
Why in the News?
An outbreak of Marburg Virus (Bleeding Eyes) disease (MVD) has killed and infected many in Rwanda.
About Marburg Virus:
| Overview | • Causes Marburg Virus Disease (MVD), also known as Marburg Hemorrhagic Fever. • Belongs to the filovirus family (same as Ebola). • Discovered during outbreaks in 1967 in Marburg and Frankfurt, Germany. • Case Fatality Rate ranges from 24% to 88%, depending on the strain and treatment effectiveness.How does it spread? • Animal to Human Transmission: Spread primarily from Rousettus bats, especially Egyptian fruit bats found in caves or mines. |
| Symptoms and Treatment | • Early signs include fever, headache, muscle aches, chills, nausea, vomiting, and severe diarrhoea.
• Progresses to bleeding from various body parts, and death typically occurs 8-9 days after symptoms due to blood loss and organ failure. |
| Why is it a Global Concern? | • High Fatality Rate: MVD’s case fatality rate (24%-88%) makes it one of the deadliest diseases. • Spread: Ongoing outbreaks, primarily in Africa, but now affecting Rwanda and Tanzania. • Public Health Threat: Human-to-human transmission and rapid spread pose significant challenges. • Economic Impact: Outbreaks disrupt local economies, healthcare systems, and global trade due to travel restrictions and quarantine measures. |
PYQ:[2015] Among the following, which were frequently mentioned in the news for the outbreak of Ebola virus recently? (a) Syria and Jordan (b) Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia (c) Philippines and Papua New Guinea (d) Jamaica, Haiti and Surinam |
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