The World Health Organization has convened an emergency meeting to discuss an outbreak of Marburg virus in Central Africa. At least nine people have died from the virus that is now spreading through Equatorial Guinea.
Marburg virus is in the same family as Ebola virus. It is said to cause a viral hemorrhagic fever, which can lead to bleeding from the nose and mouth. Symptoms can include lethargy, dehydration, nausea, vomiting, sore throat and abdominal pain. There is no vaccine for Marburg virus but the WHO says that there are potential treatments.
And where does Marbug virus come from. According to WHO: “It is transmitted to humans by fruit bats and spread through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials.”
