Marburg virus ‘will not become the next pandemic’ but should be monitored, doctor says

Amid reviews of two confirmed Marburg virus outbreaks within the African international locations of Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania, the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) launched an alert final week for U.S. medical doctors to maintain a watch out for any potential instances.

“At present, the chance of MVD [Marburg virus disease] in the US is low; nonetheless, clinicians ought to pay attention to the potential for imported instances,” the CDC said within the alert. 

“You will need to systematically assess sufferers for the potential of viral hemorrhagic fevers.”

MARBURG VIRUS: CDC WARNS US PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS OF EBOLA-LIKE DISEASE

The CDC defines the Marburg virus — which has been in comparison with the Ebola virus — as a “uncommon however extreme hemorrhagic fever, which impacts each folks and non-human primates.”

Fox Information medical contributor and NYU Langone inside medication specialist Dr. Marc Siegel appeared on the Fox Information Channel to share his perspective on the virus.

Virus is much like Ebola

The Marburg virus isn’t new — it was first found in 1967, when outbreaks occurred in labs in Marburg and Frankfurt (each in Germany) and in Serbia (previously Belgrade, Yugoslavia).

Nevertheless, Dr. Siegel mentioned extra sustained outbreaks are taking place the place it was once sporadic. 

“It is a virus that comes from bats — it’s similar to Ebola,” he mentioned on “Fox & Pals” on Monday, April 10. 

The Marburg virus is unfold by the Egyptian fruit bat, which is present in each Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania, per the CDC.

“We noticed a fairly large outbreak in Tanzania, which it appears to me like they’ve gotten management over, as only a few persons are being quarantined now,” mentioned Dr. Siegel. “However in Equatorial Guinea, there’s an issue.”

Dr. Siegel expressed concern that the governments of the international locations the place the Marburg outbreaks have occurred aren’t sharing the complete particulars. (Fox Information)

Signs of Marburg embrace nausea, vomiting, sore throat, chest ache, belly ache and diarrhea, the CDC said. 

Extra extreme instances can result in irritation of the pancreas, jaundice, delirium, extreme weight reduction, shock, hemorrhaging and organ failure.

On account of its similarity to the Ebola virus, the CDC recommends that medical doctors comply with the identical protocols for an infection prevention and management when coping with instances of the Marburg virus. 

‘They’re hiding instances’

Dr. Siegel expressed concern that the governments of the international locations the place the Marburg outbreaks have occurred aren’t sharing the complete particulars.

“It’s the standard drawback — they’re not telling us something.”

“It’s the standard drawback — they’re not telling us something,” he mentioned. “They’re hiding instances. There have most likely been not less than 29 deaths.”

Dr. Siegel additionally condemned the World Well being Group (WHO) for not reacting appropriately. 

“The World Well being Group, as regular, is limp — not doing what they’re purported to be doing right here, which might be to get a vaccine in there,” he mentioned. 

Officers in Equatorial Guinea first declared a Marburg outbreak on Feb. 13. The primary Tanzanian outbreak was declared on March 21. (Fox Information)

Dr. Siegel famous that there’s a vaccine for the Marburg virus — and that the beneficial plan of action can be to conduct a “ring vaccination” across the people who find themselves most affected.

With the ring vaccination strategy, a vaccine is given to an individual who’s uncovered to a virus, together with anybody else who has been in shut contact with that particular person, per WebMD. 

This technique was used to assist finish the smallpox outbreaks within the mid-1900s.

Marburg virus shouldn’t be airborne

One piece of excellent information that Dr. Siegel shared: In contrast to the COVID-19 virus, the Marburg virus doesn’t unfold by way of the air.

CDC WARNS OF MARBURG VIRUS AFTER DEADLY AFRICA OUTBREAK

“It’s fairly secure, so it doesn’t mutate the best way we noticed with COVID,” he mentioned on “Fox & Pals.” 

“It spreads by way of shut contact by way of secretions.”

Secretions embrace bodily fluids equivalent to blood, saliva, plasma, semen and urine.

“However it’s a horrible virus and it causes a reasonably excessive loss of life price,” Dr. Siegel famous. “We undoubtedly have to control it, as a result of we don’t need to see any instances right here [in the U.S.] — however we don’t have management of the state of affairs.”

The Marburg virus is unfold by the Egyptian fruit bat, which is present in each Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania, per the CDC. (Getty Pictures)

“And once more, I’m disenchanted in each the WHO and the native governments, as a result of it might probably clearly unfold round Western Africa,” he added.

Marburg not more likely to grow to be the following pandemic

Dr. Siegel was clear: He doesn’t suppose the Marburg virus will grow to be the following pandemic, as “it’s too secure to mutate in that route.”

“In nature, this isn’t going to trigger a pandemic.”

He did categorical concern, nonetheless, about viruses being “performed with” within the lab.

“I can’t inform you 100% that one thing received’t occur in a lab,” he mentioned. “That’s the place my concern is. However in nature, this isn’t going to trigger a pandemic — it’s solely going to trigger sporadic outbreaks. And it may be managed, because it simply was in Tanzania.”

Because of the Marburg virus’ similarity to the Ebola virus, the CDC recommends that medical doctors comply with the identical protocols for an infection prevention and management when coping with instances (enlarged particles of the Marburg virus pictured). (Getty Pictures)

Vice President Kamala Harris was simply in Tanzania a few weeks in the past, mentioned Dr. Siegel — however there is a “actually low probability” that she would have been uncovered.

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“We must always not over-hype this, however we needs to be conscious,” the physician mentioned. “And our public well being organizations, particularly the WHO, will not be successfully coming to bear on it.”

Officers in Equatorial Guinea first declared a Marburg outbreak on Feb. 13.

The primary Tanzanian outbreak was declared on March 21.

There are presently no confirmed instances of the Marburg virus within the U.S.