How does Marburg virus spread?

Marburg virus is a virus that frequently appears in Africa. It is extremely harmful and often occurs in children under 5 years old. From a clinical perspective, the virus is mostly transmitted through contact. Generally, non-human primates and patients with poor immunity are infected first, and then they are transmitted to adults or medical staff who come into contact with them through saliva, excrement, etc.

1. Populations susceptible to Marburg virus

Marburg virus is most likely to infect children. In Africa, 75% of cases occur in children under 5 years old, and most adult infections are relatives and medical staff who have close contact with infected children.

2. Transmission of Marburg virus

Non-human primates and patients infected with the virus are the main sources of infection. The virus is usually transmitted to humans by infected non-human primates (such as green monkeys), and then from patients to other healthy people. The Marburg virus is highly contagious. The more severe the symptoms, the more contagious the patient is. Patients in the incubation period are less contagious. Humans are not part of the natural cycle of the virus and are only infected by chance. The reservoir host of this virus in nature is still unclear.

It is mainly transmitted through close contact, that is, contact with the corpses of dead animals and patients, as well as the blood, secretions, excrement, vomit, droplets, etc. of infected animals and patients, and transmission through mucous membranes and broken skin. In epidemic areas of Africa, outbreaks of this disease have occurred many times due to contact with patient corpses at funerals. Hospital infection and laboratory infection can also occur through close contact. In addition, medical transmission can occur through the use of contaminated syringes, etc. It has been reported that Marburg virus can still be detected in the semen of patients within 3 months after clinical recovery, so there is a possibility of sexual transmission. There have also been reports of experimental animals being infected by aerosols containing the virus.