What is Marv?
© Dr, Martin Schauflinger, Institut of Virology, University of MarburgMarburg virus (MARV) is a hemorrhagic fever virus and member of the filovirus family. It is a highly infectious and lethal pathogen (fatality ratio of up to 88%) with substantial epidemic potential. MARV reservoir are fruit bats, widely distributed across Africa. Humans get infected via direct contact with contaminated body fluids (also during human-to-human transmission) or consumption of bush meat. MARV can in rare cases persist in immunopriviledged sites which can be the source of new transmission chains, complicating efforts to control outbreaks.
Recent recurrent outbreaks of the Marburg virus, including in previously unaffected countries, highlight its ongoing threat. The lack of a licensed vaccine or specific antiviral treatment, along with the virus’s high lethality, underscores the critical need for effective antivirals and the growing clinical and societal interest in their development.
History of Marburg virus
In 1967 an outbreak of an unknown severe febrile illness occurred in the small city of Marburg, Germany. First, employees of the former Behring company that were caring for monkeys, which were imported from Uganda, and got in contact with their tissue became severely sick due to an unknown mysterious disease. Subsequently, relatives of those employees and health care workers were infected as well. The unknown virus was then isolated as causative agent and named Marburg virus after the city of its discovery. During this “first” outbreak, 31 people were infected and seven of them died.
More Information and Recent Marburg Outbreaks
You can find more information on Marburg virus and recent outbreaks here: