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Marburg and Ebola: The Psychological Impact on Survivors

The psychological impact of surviving Marburg or Ebola virus infection can be devastating for individuals and their families.

Ebola-Cases.com

Feb 18, 2023 • 3 min read

Photo by National Cancer Institute / Unsplash

Marburg and Ebola viruses are among the deadliest diseases in the world. Both viruses cause viral hemorrhagic fever, which can be fatal to humans and animals. Marburg virus (MARV) is a hemorrhagic fever virus of the Filoviridae family of viruses and a member of the species Marburg marburgvirus, genus Marburgvirus. Ebola virus (EBOV) is also a member of the Filoviridae family of viruses. Both viruses are highly contagious and can be transmitted through body fluids such as blood, sweat, and saliva.

The psychological impact of surviving Marburg or Ebola virus infection can be devastating for individuals and their families. Survivors often face stigma, discrimination, and social isolation, which can have long-lasting effects on their mental health and well-being.

The Trauma of Surviving Marburg and Ebola

Surviving Marburg or Ebola virus infection can be a traumatic experience. Patients with Marburg or Ebola virus disease often experience symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle pain, and fatigue, which can progress to more severe symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and hemorrhaging. Survivors of Marburg or Ebola virus disease often have to undergo extensive medical treatment, including blood transfusions and supportive care, which can be physically and emotionally draining.

Survivors of Marburg and Ebola virus disease often face the trauma of losing family members and friends to the disease. The high mortality rate of Marburg and Ebola virus disease can leave survivors feeling guilty and questioning why they survived when others did not. Survivors may also experience survivor's guilt, which is a feeling of guilt that they survived the disease while others did not.

Stigma and Discrimination

Survivors of Marburg and Ebola virus disease often face stigma and discrimination from their communities. The fear and misunderstanding surrounding the diseases can lead to social isolation and exclusion for survivors. Survivors may be ostracized from their families and communities and may struggle to reintegrate into society.

Stigma and discrimination can have a significant impact on survivors' mental health and well-being. Survivors may experience depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of the trauma and isolation they have experienced.

Coping with the Psychological Impact of Surviving Marburg and Ebola

Survivors of Marburg and Ebola virus disease require comprehensive care to address the physical, emotional, and social consequences of the disease. Psychological support is critical to helping survivors cope with the trauma of the disease and to help them reintegrate into society.

Survivors require ongoing counseling and support to help them deal with the psychological impact of the disease. Survivors may benefit from individual and group therapy, which can help them process their feelings of guilt, grief, and trauma. Survivors may also benefit from community-based support groups, which can help them connect with other survivors and reduce feelings of isolation and exclusion.

In addition to psychological support, survivors require access to medical care to address the long-term physical consequences of the disease. Survivors may experience ongoing health problems, including fatigue, joint pain, and vision problems, which require ongoing medical care and monitoring.

Conclusion

The psychological impact of surviving Marburg and Ebola virus infection can be devastating for individuals and their families. Survivors often face stigma, discrimination, and social isolation, which can have long-lasting effects on their mental health and well-being.

Comprehensive care is essential to help survivors cope with the psychological impact of the disease. Survivors require ongoing counseling and support to help them process their feelings of guilt, grief, and trauma. They also require access to medical care to address the long-term physical consequences of the disease.

As a society, we must work to reduce the stigma and discrimination faced by survivors of Marburg and Ebola virus infections. This can be achieved through public education campaigns that promote accurate information about the diseases and their transmission, as well as the importance of supporting survivors. Additionally, efforts should be made to integrate survivors into their communities and provide opportunities for them to contribute to society.

Finally, it is crucial that we continue to invest in research and development of effective treatments and vaccines for Marburg and Ebola viruses. Prevention and early intervention are key to reducing the number of deaths and long-term health consequences associated with these diseases. By working together, we can mitigate the devastating impact of Marburg and Ebola viruses and provide survivors with the care and support they need to move forward with their lives.