Health officials in the US have published a warning to be on the lookout for a rare and potentially fatal virus.
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this week advised doctors about the possible growth of an ebola-like Marburg virus, reports Fox News.
There are two confirmed outbreaks of Marburg virus disease (MVD) in Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea.
The CDC said the pathogen likely spilled over from wild animals to humans.
There have been no reported Marburg diagnoses in the US, but the CDC said it seemed to “increase awareness of the risk of imported cases in the United States”.
The disease is usually spread through contact with infected blood or other bodily fluids rather than airborne transmission.
“Currently, the risk of MVD in the United States is low; however, clinicians should be aware of the potential for imported cases,” the CDC said.
The disease has epidemic potential, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). It has high fatality rates — out of eight Tanzanian cases reported so far, five of the patients died.
Equatorial Guinea officials reported their first outbreak on February 13, where there have been 14 confirmed cases and 10 deaths. The Tanzanian government announced its first-ever outbreak of MVD on March 21.
Symptoms include headache, fatigue, sudden fever, unexplained bleeding and gastrointestinal symptoms. Muscle and joint pain and loss of appetite are also common.
The incubation period is usually two to 21 days. The CDC noted that the disease is sometimes difficult to diagnose.
“Many of the signs and symptoms of MVD are similar to other infectious diseases (such as malaria or typhoid fever) or viral haemorrhagic fevers that may be endemic in the area (such as Lassa fever or ebola),” the CDC said.
“This is especially true if only a single case is involved.”
The CDC stated the disease’s mortality rate is anywhere from 23 per cent to 90 per cent. There is no US approved vaccine for the disease, but fluid replacement and intensive supportive care in its early stages can be successful.
This story appeared on Fox News and is reproduced with permission.
For more latest Lifestyle News Click Here