Marburg virus outbreak in 2022: a public health concern

Marburg virus—discovered by virologists in Marburg following a 19761WHOMarburg virus disease.https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/marburg-virus-diseaseDate: August, 2021Date accessed: August 19, 2022Google Scholar outbreak in Marburg and Frankfurt, Germany, and in Belgrade, Serbia2Joi P The next pandemic: Marburg?.https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/next-pandemic/marburg?gclid=CjwKCAjw6fyXBhBgEiwAhhiZsv7fDPD18jtSeAXRzEiQQ\Z6Zu456E3q7IDfbFEmYc26chZqOoUIozhoC6YoQAvD_BwEDate: April 22, 2021Date accessed: August 19, 2022Google Scholar—is a member of the Filoviridae family and is as deadly as Ebola virus,2Joi P The next pandemic: Marburg?.https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/next-pandemic/marburg?gclid=CjwKCAjw6fyXBhBgEiwAhhiZsv7fDPD18jtSeAXRzEiQQ\Z6Zu456E3q7IDfbFEmYc26chZqOoUIozhoC6YoQAvD_BwEDate: April 22, 2021Date accessed: August 19, 2022Google Scholar also a member of Filoviridae. Marburg virus can be transmitted to humans from fruit bats and spread through human-to-human transmission.1WHOMarburg virus disease.https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/marburg-virus-diseaseDate: August, 2021Date accessed: August 19, 2022Google Scholar In 2004, Angola, in central Africa, faced the largest known outbreak of Marburg virus disease,2Joi P The next pandemic: Marburg?.https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/next-pandemic/marburg?gclid=CjwKCAjw6fyXBhBgEiwAhhiZsv7fDPD18jtSeAXRzEiQQ\Z6Zu456E3q7IDfbFEmYc26chZqOoUIozhoC6YoQAvD_BwEDate: April 22, 2021Date accessed: August 19, 2022Google Scholar which had a 90% fatality rate, with 227 deaths among 252 infected people.2Joi P The next pandemic: Marburg?.https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/next-pandemic/marburg?gclid=CjwKCAjw6fyXBhBgEiwAhhiZsv7fDPD18jtSeAXRzEiQQ\Z6Zu456E3q7IDfbFEmYc26chZqOoUIozhoC6YoQAvD_BwEDate: April 22, 2021Date accessed: August 19, 2022Google Scholar, 3CIDRAPAngola declares worst Marburg outbreak over.https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2005/11/angola-declares-worst-marburg-outbreak-overDate: Nov, 10, 2005Date accessed: September 6, 2022Google Scholar In July, 2022, after almost 18 years, two cases of Marburg virus disease were identified in the Ashanti region of Ghana, in west Africa.4WHOMarburg virus disease—Ghana.https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2022-DON402Date: July, 2022Date accessed: August 19, 2022Google Scholar According to WHO, the risk of this 2022 outbreak spreading is high at the national level and low at the global level.4WHOMarburg virus disease—Ghana.https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2022-DON402Date: July, 2022Date accessed: August 19, 2022Google Scholar However, there is a risk that this outbreak will spread to other nations because the first reported patient with Marburg virus disease had travelled from Ghana's Western region (which borders Côte d'Ivoire) to the Ashanti region a few days before symptom onset. Like Ebola virus, Marburg virus spreads from human to human through the bodily fluids of infected people.2Joi P The next pandemic: Marburg?.https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/next-pandemic/marburg?gclid=CjwKCAjw6fyXBhBgEiwAhhiZsv7fDPD18jtSeAXRzEiQQ\Z6Zu456E3q7IDfbFEmYc26chZqOoUIozhoC6YoQAvD_BwEDate: April 22, 2021Date accessed: August 19, 2022Google Scholar Thus, a patient's family members and health workers could become infected by treating the infected person. Because the incubation period of Marburg virus could be up to 3 weeks, increasing globalisation and international travel increase the risk of global spread,2Joi P The next pandemic: Marburg?.https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/next-pandemic/marburg?gclid=CjwKCAjw6fyXBhBgEiwAhhiZsv7fDPD18jtSeAXRzEiQQ\Z6Zu456E3q7IDfbFEmYc26chZqOoUIozhoC6YoQAvD_BwEDate: April 22, 2021Date accessed: August 19, 2022Google Scholar creating the potential for a pandemic and major public health threat given the high fatality rate of the disease. Concerningly, no specific vaccines or antiviral treatments are currently approved for Marburg virus disease.2Joi P The next pandemic: Marburg?.https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/next-pandemic/marburg?gclid=CjwKCAjw6fyXBhBgEiwAhhiZsv7fDPD18jtSeAXRzEiQQ\Z6Zu456E3q7IDfbFEmYc26chZqOoUIozhoC6YoQAvD_BwEDate: April 22, 2021Date accessed: August 19, 2022Google Scholar With no therapeutics and a high fatality rate, future outbreaks and a pandemic remain possible. Therefore, urgent consideration of Marburg virus disease and ways in which to prevent a pandemic due to this virus is essential. Vaccines against Marburg virus need to be developed, and antivirals specific to the virus need to be produced. Governments of all countries should ensure the availability of therapeutics for Marburg virus disease for their citizens. Most importantly, measures should be taken immediately to prevent further transmission in the three regions of Ghana (Ashanti, Savannah, and Western regions)4WHOMarburg virus disease—Ghana.https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2022-DON402Date: July, 2022Date accessed: August 19, 2022Google Scholar in which contacts of the two confirmed cases have been identified. Preventing transmission of the virus in these affected areas of Ghana can limit risk of global spread. Additionally, it would be beneficial to initiate programmes worldwide, through mass media and social media, to increase awareness among the general population regarding Marburg virus disease and the associated risks of bat-to-human and human-to-human transmission. Raising concern early among people worldwide is essential to preventing a future outbreak and possible pandemic of Marburg virus disease. We declare no competing interests. YA and STM contributed equally.

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