Ebola Virus and Marburg Virus Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

What Is Ebola Virus And Marburg Virus?

Both of these viruses are quite similar to each other and originate basically from Africa. Ebola and Marburg virus dwells in animal host and humans get this virus from infected animals. Hemorrhagic fever is a terrible illness that is often characterized by bleeding, failure of organs and even death. Once infected, no medication could yet cure Ebola virus and Marburg virus but if strict precautions are taken, these viruses can be prevented. The only way it can affect person from person is through blood transfer, body fluids and contaminated needles.

What Are The Symptoms Of Ebola Virus And Marburg Virus?

The symptoms evolve approximately within ten days when the virus affects a person. During early stages, the following symptoms generally evolve:

Chills.
Headache.
Fever.
Aching muscles and joints.
Weakness.

These are some common symptoms that may evolve in early stages but when the condition gets severe, the following symptoms may also arise:

Significant loss of weight.
Diarrhea often involving blood.
Vomiting and nausea.
Stomach ache.
Bleeding eyes, nose and ears during final and fatal stage.
Cough.
Chest pain.
Red eyes.
Bleeding internally.

Immediate medical attention is therefore required to at least improve the symptoms and control complications.

What Causes Ebola Virus And Marburg Virus?

The root cause of Ebola virus and Marburg virus is the transmission from animals like chimps, primates and monkeys in Africa. A study claimed that Ebola virus was also found in pigs and monkeys in the Philippines. Moreover, African fruit bats are also very often infected with Marburg virus. Now the viruses are transferred through:

Blood i.e. eating animals infected with Ebola virus or Marburg virus.
Waste products i.e. underground mine workers were reported to suffer from Marburg virus after getting into contact with bat urine and feces.

Once transferred from animals to human, Ebola virus and Marburg virus can be transferred from person to person through:

Injections using infected needles or syringes.
Poor equipment during medical treatment of Ebola virus or Marburg virus victim.

These viruses are also often contagious after the symptoms show up.

What Are The Risk Factors Of Ebola Virus And Marburg Virus?

A person is at a higher risk of getting infected by Ebola or Marburg virus if:

He takes care of an infected person or provides medical treatment without using proper gloves and mask.
He visits Africa.
He plays a role in burying a person who died due to Ebola or Marburg virus.
He conducts medical research on monkeys or pigs imported from Africa and/or Philippines.

How Is Ebola Virus And Marburg Virus Diagnosed?

During its early stage, neither Ebola nor Marburg virus is easy to diagnose. This is because the symptoms that evolve are quite similar to the symptoms evolving in other common diseases.

However, the following may be used to diagnose the virus: