With 26 cases confirmed and several fatalities, the African country is experiencing its first bout of the zoonotic disease.
Under a moderate magnification of 250X, this hematoxylin-eosin-stained (H&E) photomicrograph depicts the cytoarchitectural changes found in a liver tissue specimen extracted from a Marburg disease patient in South Africa. This particular view reveals, groups of cells at different stages of acidophilic necrosis, with some evolving into Councilman bodies. There are numerous basophilic bodies, as well as early fatty changes.
Image credit: Dr. Yves Robin and Dr. Jean Renaudet, Arbovirus Laboratory at the Pasteur Institute in Dakar, Senegal; World Health Organization
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported the African country of Rwanda has had 26 cases confirmed, and the country's Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana sayd there has been 8deaths of the Marburg virus reported. Additionally, there has been 20 cases are in isolation and receiving treatment, while 161 people who came into contact with the reported cases have so far been identified and are being monitored as the authorities ramp up comprehensive response measures and deepen investigation to determine the origin of the infection.1
There has been cases reported in 7 of the country’s 30 districts.1
“We’re rapidly setting all the critical outbreak response aspects in motion to support Rwanda halt the spread of this virus swiftly and effectively,” said Matshidiso Moeti, MD, WHO regional director for Africa, said in a statement. “With the country’s already robust public health emergency response system, WHO is collaborating closely with the national authorities to provide the needed support to further enhance the ongoing efforts.” 1
Marburg virus is a filovirus in the Ebola family. It is a rare but highly infectious virus rapidly becomes symptomatic and causes hemorrhagic fever, severe headache, and muscle pains. Within 3 days, symptoms progress to diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and extreme blood loss. Death usually occurs within 8-9 days, as a result of hemorrhage and multiorgan dysfunction.2
Marburg disease is spread from infected Egyptian rousette bats to people. The virus is found in the saliva, urine, and feces of infected bats. Once the disease has "spilled over" from wildlife to people, those who are sick can spread the disease to other people.2
The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed 26 cases and 6 deaths from the Marburg virus in Rwanda as of Saturday.
The Marburg virus is part of the Ebola family, primarily transmitted from Egyptian rousette bats to humans.
A phase 1 trial of an investigational Marburg vaccine (cAd3-Marburg) showed promising results. C
In terms of prevention, CDC says to avoid the following:
According to the CDC, patients with Marburg disease initially can shows signs and symptoms such as:
In a more progressive state, Marburg develop into liver failure, delirium, shock, bleeding (hemorrhaging), and multi-organ dysfunction.3
There are no therapies to treat the virus and it is limited to supportive care. This includes rest, hydration, managing oxygen status and blood pressure, and treatment of secondary infections.3
Last year, results of a phase 1 study for an investigational Marburg vaccine were reported. The study recruited 40 healthy adult volunteers from the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research Clinical Trials Center in Silver Spring, Maryland. Participants received 1 dose of either a low dose of the vaccine (1x1010 particle units) or a slightly higher dose of the vaccine 1x1011 particle units). For safety, study patients were enrolled in a dose-escalation plan.2,4
The trial began with a few participants receiving a lower dose of cAd3-Marburg. When these patients did not exhibit severe adverse reactions after the first 7 days, the investigators enrolled the remaining 17 volunteers. This practice was repeated for the higher dose cohort. 2,4
The participants were monitored for adverse reactions to cAd3-Marburg and evaluated at regular intervals for 48 weeks to track their immune responses. 2,4
There were no serious adverse events in the trial, and the experimental vaccine was well tolerated. cAd3-Marburg appeared to induce strong, lasting immunity to the MARV glycoprotein, with 95% of trial participants (n = 38) exhibiting a robust antibody response after vaccination and 70% retaining the response for at least 48 weeks. 2,4
Secondary immunogenicity endpoints assessed binding antibody responses and T-cell responses against the MARV glycoprotein insert; both increased at 4 weeks after vaccination. 2,4
