What You Need to Know About the Marburg Virus Outbreak

Ever heard of the Marburg virus? It’s a scary disease that’s been making headlines lately. In Rwanda, at least 66 people have gotten sick and sadly, 15 have died from it. This virus is related to Ebola and can cause bleeding from different parts of the body, including the eyes. That’s why it’s sometimes called the "bleeding eye disease. " How does it spread? Fruit bats are thought to be the main culprits. People can get it if they come into contact with infected bats or other infected people. The virus can hide in the body for up to 21 days before symptoms show up. After that, people might have a fever, internal bleeding, and even bleed from their eyes, nose, or mouth. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned people not to travel to Rwanda because of the outbreak. They also advised travelers to avoid certain activities, like participating in burial rituals or getting too close to wild animals. The good news is that the outbreak seems to be slowing down. No new cases have been reported in Rwanda for 28 days. But health experts are still keeping a close eye on the situation. Marburg virus isn’t the only worry right now. There have been more cases of monkeypox in the UK and California. This virus, often called "Mpox, " is another concern for global health experts. Scientists first discovered the Marburg virus in 1967 when it struck cities in Germany and Yugoslavia. It’s part of a family called filoviruses, which also includes Ebola. The two viruses are very similar, and without treatment, Marburg virus can be deadly. There’s no specific medicine to treat Marburg virus, but there is a vaccine being researched. In Rwanda, over 1, 500 health workers have been given this vaccine as part of a clinical trial.