Authorities in Addis Ababa have confirmed that the Marburg virus outbreak in southern Ethiopia has reached the level of an epidemic, as announced on Saturday. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned about the Marburg virus after nine cases were detected in Ethiopia and the country's Ministry of Health confirmed infections in the African nation. Marburg is considered one of the most dangerous viruses causing hemorrhagic fever, which often has severe outcomes and leads to death. According to the UN agency, the virus currently has 'no antidote' and no approved treatments for it, which enhances its ability to spread and increases the level of risk associated with it. Initial symptoms of the disease include a high fever, severe headache, and muscle pain. In later stages, patients suffer from internal and external bleeding about a week after the first signs appear. In an attempt to contain the spread of the disease, the organization has sent a team of experts to provide technical support and assist in implementing containment measures to limit the spread of the infection. Results of the genetic analysis of samples showed that the detected strain matches the one previously identified in the 'Jinka' area in southern Ethiopia, as well as the registration of other cases recently in various parts of East Africa. 'Marburg' falls under the 'filoviruses' family, the same family to which the very deadly 'Ebola' virus belongs. The organization's data shows that the fatality rate from this virus in previous outbreaks has reached 88%. It is recalled that this virus can be transmitted from person to person, and its natural reservoir is a certain species of fruit bats.
