What You Need To Know About The Outbreak Of Marburg Hemorrhagic Fever In the Context of Africa

 Marburg virus disease

The virus was first identified in 1967 when outbreaks occurred simultaneously in laboratories in Marburg and Frankfurt, Germany, and in Belgrade, Serbia (formerly Yugoslavia). These outbreaks were traced back to African green monkeys that had been imported from Uganda.

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1967: The first Marburg virus outbreak was reported in Marburg, Germany, and Frankfurt, Germany. The outbreak was linked to laboratory work with African green monkeys, and there were 31 cases, including seven deaths.

1975: A second outbreak occurred in South Africa, with three cases, including one death.

1980: A third outbreak occurred in Kenya, and there was one case, which was fatal.

1987: A fourth outbreak occurred in Kenya, with two cases, including one death.

1998-2000: The largest outbreak of the Marburg virus occurred in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. There were 154 cases, including 128 deaths.

2004-2005: The second-largest outbreak occurred in Angola, and there were 252 cases, including 227 deaths.

2007: An outbreak occurred in Uganda, and there were four cases, including three deaths.

2012: An outbreak occurred in Uganda, and there were 15 cases, including four deaths.

2017: An outbreak occurred in Uganda, with three cases, including one death.

2022: An outbreak occurred in Guinea, and there were five cases, including three deaths.

2023: An outbreak began in Equatorial Guinea, and there have been nine deaths and sixteen suspected cases reported so far. Cameroon has reported two additional suspected cases, which may indicate ongoing transmission in the region. *March 2023- Tanzania

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Since then, sporadic outbreaks of MVD have occurred in several African countries, including Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Angola, and Kenya. Outbreaks have been linked to the handling of infected animals or their tissues, and human-to-human transmission has occurred in healthcare settings.

The largest outbreak of MVD occurred in Angola in 2005-2006, where over 400 cases were reported, with a case fatality rate of approximately 90%. This outbreak was notable for its rapid spread across several provinces in Angola and its high case fatality rate.

More recently, in January 2022, an outbreak of MVD was reported in Tanzania, with at least four confirmed cases and two deaths. The outbreak is believed to have started in December 2021, and investigations are ongoing to identify the source of the virus and the extent of its spread.

The spatial and temporal distribution of MVD outbreaks in Africa has been sporadic, with most outbreaks occurring in the eastern and central regions of the continent. The disease is rare but highly lethal, with no specific treatment or vaccine currently available. Early diagnosis, isolation of infected individuals, and strict infection control measures are critical in preventing the spread of MVD during outbreaks.

Spatial Distribution

Marburg virus disease has been reported in several countries across Africa. The majority of outbreaks have occurred in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Other countries that have reported cases of Marburg virus disease include Angola, Kenya, South Africa, and Tanzania.

The first reported outbreak of Marburg virus disease in Africa occurred in 1975 in the DRC, where workers were exposed to imported African green monkeys that were infected with the virus. Since then, several outbreaks have occurred in different parts of the country. In Uganda, the first reported outbreak occurred in 2000 and since then, the country has experienced several outbreaks, the largest of which occurred in 2012.

Temporal Distribution

Marburg virus disease outbreaks in Africa have occurred sporadically and unpredictably. The interval between outbreaks has ranged from several years to over a decade. The largest and most recent outbreak of Marburg virus disease occurred in Uganda in 2012, where 15 cases were reported, including four deaths.

In recent years, there have been no reported outbreaks of Marburg virus disease in Africa. However, the virus remains a concern due to its potential for causing severe illness and death. Additionally, outbreaks of other hemorrhagic fever viruses such as the Ebola virus have occurred in several countries in Africa, highlighting the need for continued surveillance and preparedness for potential outbreaks of Marburg virus disease

Marburg virus disease is a severe and often fatal illness caused by the Marburg virus. The disease has been reported in several countries across Africa, with the majority of outbreaks occurring in Uganda and the DRC. The temporal distribution of Marburg virus disease outbreaks has been sporadic and unpredictable, with intervals between outbreaks ranging from several years to over a decade. Continued surveillance and preparedness are needed to prevent and control potential outbreaks of Marburg virus disease in Africa.

Critical Observaional 

Marburg virus disease (MVD) is a severe and often fatal illness caused by the Marburg virus. The morbidity and mortality of MVD in Africa vary depending on the outbreak, the population affected, and the response measures put in place to control the spread of the disease.

During the largest outbreak of MVD in Uganda in 2012, 15 cases were reported, including four deaths. This represents a case fatality rate (CFR) of approximately 27%. In comparison, the CFR for Ebola virus disease outbreaks in Africa has ranged from approximately 25% to 90%, with the 2014-2016 West African Ebola outbreak having a CFR of approximately 40%.

Other outbreaks of MVD in Africa have had varying morbidity and mortality rates. For example, in the first reported outbreak of MVD in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 1975, 31 cases were reported, including seven deaths, representing a CFR of approximately 23%. In contrast, the 1998-2000 outbreak in the DRC had a much higher CFR of approximately 83%, with 154 cases reported and 128 deaths.

It is worth noting that the symptoms of MVD can be similar to those of other hemorrhagic fever viruses such as the Ebola virus, the Lassa virus, and the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus. These diseases can also cause severe illness and death, with CFRs that vary depending on the outbreak and population affected.

In conclusion, the morbidity and mortality of Marburg virus disease in Africa vary depending on the outbreak and response measures put in place. While the disease can cause severe illness and death, the CFRs for MVD outbreaks in Africa have generally been lower than those of Ebola virus disease outbreaks.

 

References:

World Health Organization. Marburg virus disease. https://www.who.int/health-topics/marburg-virus-disease#tab=tab_1

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Marburg virus disease. https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/marburg/index.html

Paweska JT, Jansen van Vuren P, Masumu J, et al. Ebola and Marburg virus diseases in Africa: increased risk of outbreaks in previously unaffected areas? Microbes Infect. 2014;16(7):529-536. doi:10.1016/j.micinf.2014.04.007