Warnings have been issued to travelers in 17 countries against the spread of measles and mumps fever, as well as Marburg or ‘bleeding eye’ virus.

Marburg has been called the ‘bleeding eye’ virus because one of its symptoms has already killed more than 15 people in Rwanda. It is also believed that hundreds of people have been infected by it.

What is Marburg Virus aka ‘Bleeding Eyes’?

Marburg virus is a serious disease that causes viral hemorrhagic fever, sometimes damaging blood vessels and causing bleeding.

A member of the Ebola family, it originates from fruit bats, its natural host, and is spread to humans through direct contact with bodily fluids such as an infected person’s blood, saliva or urine.

Infected individuals may experience high fever, severe headache, muscle pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. In severe cases, it can cause internal bleeding, organ failure, and shock, often resulting in death.

The mortality rate varies from 24% to 88% depending on the strain and the quality of medical care available.

In October, Rwandan health officials worked quickly to contain the virus, isolating patients and tracing contacts. Due to its similarity to Ebola in both symptoms and transmission, strict containment measures are important to prevent the outbreak from escalating.

Symptoms of ‘Bleeding Eye’ Virus

Symptoms of the ‘bleeding eye’ virus are similar to those of Ebola, such as fever, chills, severe headache, cough, muscle or joint pain, sore throat and rash.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, in severe cases, patients may also experience stomach or chest pain, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, unexpected weight loss, bloody stools or vomit, bleeding from the nose, eyes, mouth or vagina, and confusion. .

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the appearance of patients in this stage is described as “ghost-like” painted features, dark eyes, expressionless faces, and extreme lethargy.

Marburg virus treatment

There is no specific antiviral treatment or vaccine for Marburg virus. Supportive care such as rehydration and symptom management can help control the disease.
Rehydration and symptom management are essential to increase survival rates, as is rehydration.

Potential treatments including blood products, immune therapies, and drug treatments are currently being evaluated.

Experimental vaccines are in the early stages of clinical studies.

Efforts are underway globally to develop effective treatments, but in the meantime, according to WHO, public health measures such as isolation, protective gear and hygiene practices are the best defense against the spread of the virus.