Asad Ameema, Aamir Alifiya, Qureshi Nazuk Eraj, Bhimani Simran, Jatoi Nadia Nazir, Batra Simran, Ochani Rohan Kumar, Abbasi Muhammad Khalid, Tariq Muhammad Ali, Diwan Mufaddal Najmuddin
Department of Internal Medicine, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
Department of Internal Medicine, Ziauddin Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Infez Med. 2020 Sep 1;28(3):332-345.
Marburg Virus (MARV), along with the Ebola virus, belongs to the family of Filovirus and is cause of a lethal and severely affecting hemorrhagic fever. The Marburgvirus genus includes two viruses: MARV and Ravn. MARV has been recognized as one of utmost importance by the World Health Organization (WHO). The case fatality rate of the virus ranges from 24.0 to 88.0% which demonstrates its lethal nature and the need for its widespread information. The first case of the Marburgvirus disease (MARD) was reported in 1967 when lab personnel working with African green monkeys got infected in Germany and Serbia simultaneously. Following the initial case, many more outbreaks occurred around the world such as Uganda, Angola, Congo, Kenya and even in the United States in 2008. It was soon found out that the MARV was a zoonotic virus and mainly contracted from animal-to-human contact and further transmitted via human-to-human contact. The Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) is known to be one of the significant sources of the infection and tourists visiting caves inhabited by these bats or workers accessing mines, populated by the bats, are at an increased risk of contracting the illness. The incubation period ranges from 2-21 days and the clinical outcome can be broken down into three phases: initial generalized phase (day 1-4), early organ phase (day 5 to 13) and either a late organ/convalescence phase (day 13 onwards). Furthermore, the treatment of MARD is solely based on supportive care. Much has been investigated in over the past half-century of the initial infection but only a few treatment options show promising results. In addition, special precaution is advised whilst handling the patient or the biospecimens. Disease-modifying agents and inhibitors of viral replications show constructive outcomes. It is crucial to identify the host of the virus and educate the populations that are greatly at risk of the disease. While much is being investigated to devise a vaccine, it is important to educate Health Care Workers (HCWs) and close contacts facing the illness. Stopping the transmission remains the best measure that can be taken.
马尔堡病毒（MARV）与埃博拉病毒同属丝状病毒科，是一种致死性且严重影响人体的出血热病因。马尔堡病毒属包括两种病毒：马尔堡病毒和拉夫恩病毒。马尔堡病毒被世界卫生组织（WHO）认定为极其重要的病毒之一。该病毒的病死率在24.0%至88.0%之间，这表明了其致命性以及广泛宣传相关信息的必要性。马尔堡病毒病（MARD）的首例病例于1967年被报道，当时在德国和塞尔维亚，从事非洲绿猴研究工作的实验室人员同时受到感染。首例病例出现后，全球多地出现了更多疫情爆发，如乌干达、安哥拉、刚果、肯尼亚，甚至在2008年美国也有发生。很快人们发现马尔堡病毒是一种人畜共患病毒，主要通过动物与人的接触传播，进而在人与人之间传播。埃及果蝠（埃及墓蝠）被认为是重要的传染源之一，前往这些蝙蝠栖息洞穴的游客或进入蝙蝠聚居矿区的工人感染该病的风险更高。潜伏期为2至21天，临床症状可分为三个阶段：初期全身性阶段（第1至4天）、早期器官阶段（第5至13天）以及晚期器官/恢复期阶段（第13天及以后）。此外，马尔堡病毒病的治疗仅基于支持性护理。在过去半个世纪里，针对初始感染进行了大量研究，但只有少数治疗方案显示出有前景的结果。此外,在处理患者或生物样本时建议采取特别预防措施。疾病修饰剂和病毒复制抑制剂显示出有建设性的结果。确定病毒宿主并对疾病高危人群进行教育至关重要。虽然目前正在进行大量研究以研发疫苗，但对医护人员（HCW）和面临该病的密切接触者进行教育也很重要。阻止传播仍然是可以采取的最佳措施。
