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Novosibirsk virologist Netesov assessed the danger of Marburg fever
The outbreak of Marburg fever virus in Rwanda has caused serious concern around the world. In one week, 36 cases of the disease were reported, including 11 deaths.
The World Health Organization (WHO) assesses the risk of international spread of the disease as low. However, many people still feel anxious and fearful about the current situation.
Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, head of the Institute of Biotechnology and Virology of the Faculty of Natural Sciences of NSU Sergey Netesov in a conversation with a correspondent of "Sib.fm" reported that the Marburg fever virus is found only in Africa. And people become infected and die from bats eating diseased fruits, which are much lighter than healthy ones, and their skin becomes infected and infected.
"If you want to get infected with this virus, you have to go to Central Africa, go into the jungle, find a fruit-eating bat, and work hard to infect it. Because less than 1% of fruit-eating bats are infected. I got infected with this virus," the RAS scientist explained.
Let's be clear: Marburg virus, a distant relative of the Ebola virus, was first identified in 1967. Fruit bats are considered the natural reservoir of this virus. Infections have rarely occurred in countries where these animals live. The disease caused by this virus is a serious health threat, with a mortality rate of 30-70%.
The virus is transmitted through broken skin or mucous membranes. More than 70% of cases in Rwanda are due to the careless handling of patients and their secretions by health care workers. The main symptoms include high fever, diarrhea, headache and vomiting.