What is bleeding eye virus? All you need to know about this fatal disease

This fatal virus has claimed nearly 15 lives so far. Read on to know the symptoms and prevention of this disease.

The world is grappling with another set of virus that has nearly claimed 15 lives so far. The Marburg virus, also known as bleeding eye virus, is a haemorrhagic fever that may turn fatal. It belongs to the family of Ebola virus and has been spreading in Rwanda. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), case fatality ratio of up to 88%, but it can be much lower with good and early patient care but is clinically similar to Ebola.

It was first detected in 1976. Reportedly, thos outbreaks were associated with laboratory work using African green monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) imported from Uganda. Subsequently, outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, South Africa etc.

What is Marburg Virus or the Bleeding Eye?

This is rare but fatal kind of virus, It can cause hemorrhagic fever, damage blood vessels and lead to bleeding. It is zoonotic in nature and the origin can be traced from bats. But why bleeding eye? This virus can damage blood vessels in severe cases that may lead to bleeding from different body orifices.

Marburg virus Symptoms

The incubation period may vary from 2 to 21 days as per WHO.

• Abrupt high grade fever
• Severe headache
• Muscle ache
• Watery diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Cramping
• Non-itchy rash in some cases
• Bleeding from nose, gums

Early intensive supportive care including rehydration and treatment of specific symptoms, can improve survival. Currently there are no vaccines or antiviral treatments approved for MVD, reports WHO.

For prevention, it is important to wear gloves and cover the body when working in mines. Often bats are found in caves and mines. during such outbreaks, all meat should also be thoroughly cooked.

Transmission

Once introduced in the human population, Marburg virus can spread through human-to-human transmission via direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials (e.g. bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids.

According to a report by the Independent, around 66 people had been affected and 15 died of the infection in Rwanda.