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Outbreaks of Marburg Virus and Ebola: A Historical Comparison

These viruses are considered to be extremely dangerous.

Ebola-Cases.com

Feb 18, 2023 • 3 min read

Photo by National Cancer Institute / Unsplash

The Marburg virus (MARV) and Ebola virus are both members of the Filoviridae family of viruses and cause viral hemorrhagic fever. These viruses are considered to be extremely dangerous and can be transmitted through exposure to infected body fluids. While both viruses have been responsible for several outbreaks throughout history, there are notable differences in their spread, impact, and response. In this article, we will compare the outbreaks of the Marburg and Ebola viruses to understand their similarities and differences.

Marburg Virus Outbreaks

The Marburg virus was first identified in 1967, during a set of outbreaks of Marburg virus disease in the German cities of Marburg and Frankfurt and the Yugoslav capital Belgrade. Laboratory workers were exposed to tissues of infected grivet monkeys, leading to the infection of thirty-one people and the death of seven of them.

Since then, there have been several Marburg virus outbreaks, including ones in Angola, Kenya, and Uganda. The 2005 outbreak in Angola was particularly severe, with 252 confirmed cases and 227 deaths. The 2017 outbreak in Uganda resulted in one confirmed case and one death.

Ebola Virus Outbreaks

The Ebola virus was first identified in 1976, during two simultaneous outbreaks in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The outbreaks were caused by two different strains of the Ebola virus, Sudan ebolavirus and Zaire ebolavirus. The latter strain was responsible for the larger outbreak, which resulted in 318 confirmed cases and 280 deaths.

Since then, there have been several Ebola virus outbreaks, including the 2014 outbreak in West Africa, which was the largest Ebola outbreak in history. The outbreak began in Guinea and quickly spread to Sierra Leone and Liberia. There were a total of 28,616 confirmed, probable, and suspected cases, resulting in 11,310 deaths.

Comparison of Outbreaks

While both the Marburg and Ebola viruses have caused several outbreaks throughout history, there are notable differences between them. One of the biggest differences is in their geographic distribution. Marburg virus outbreaks have primarily occurred in Africa, while Ebola virus outbreaks have occurred in both Africa and Asia.

The impact of the outbreaks also varies. The 2014 Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa was the largest Ebola outbreak in history and had a significant impact on the affected countries, causing a humanitarian crisis and an economic downturn. The Marburg virus outbreaks have been smaller in scale, with fewer cases and deaths.

Another notable difference is in the response to the outbreaks. While there is no approved vaccine or antiviral treatment for either virus, there has been more progress in developing a vaccine for the Ebola virus. The rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine was developed during the 2014 outbreak and has been shown to be highly effective in preventing Ebola virus infection. In contrast, there has been less progress in developing a vaccine for the Marburg virus.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both the Marburg and Ebola viruses are highly infectious and have caused several outbreaks throughout history. While there are similarities in their modes of transmission and symptoms, there are also notable differences in their spread, impact, and response. While progress has been made in developing a vaccine for the Ebola virus, there is still a need for further research and development to address the threat of both viruses. As we continue to learn more about these viruses, it is important to remain vigilant and prepared for future outbreaks.