Does the Marburg Virus Cause Bleeding Eyes? Separating Fact from Fiction

The Marburg virus causes Marburg virus disease (MVD), a severe illness with a high death rate of 88%, however, survival rates improve with appropriate medical care. It was first discovered in 1967 during epidemics in Germany and Serbia. These incidents were connected to experiments done in labs using African green monkeys that were imported from Uganda. The Marburg virus is closely linked to the Ebola virus as they both belong to the Filoviridae family and result in comparable symptoms.

The disease can take anywhere from 2 to 21 days to incubate. The sickness begins abruptly with a strong fever, intense headache, and exhaustion. Muscle pain is prevalent. Starting on the third day, individuals may experience symptoms such as watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, and vomiting for approximately one week. During this phase, patients may appear gaunt with sunken eyes and unexpressive expressions. An itch-free rash typically shows up in the initial week.

Serious signs usually emerge from day 5 to day 7, such as bleeding (hemorrhaging) that can happen from different body parts like the nose, gums, and venepuncture locations. Central nervous system involvement can lead to confusion or aggression in certain patients. Death typically occurs within 8 to 9 days after symptoms start, commonly as a result of significant blood loss and shock. Orchitis, an inflammation of the testicles, can occur infrequently in the advanced phases of the illness.

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