During the afternoon of October 2, 2024, parts of central Hamburg closed down after a suspected spread of hemorrhagic fever, caused by the Marburg virus.
According to Aftonbladet, it was a man who experienced flu symptoms on a train in Hamburg. The man was a medical student who had just flown from Rwanda where on September 27th there had been reports of several deaths caused by the Marburg virus.
The man and his girlfriend who traveled with him were immediately taken to hospital, writes the newspaper.
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What is the Marburg virus?
The Marburg virus is an RNA virus, according to the Public Health Agency. The virus is part of the same virus family as the Ebola virus, namely the filovirus family that causes hemorrhagic fever.
Dengue has a high mortality but is rare.
What causes Marburg virus?
The virus was originally traced to bats, when people who have stayed in caves where these bats live have been infected.
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How is Marburg virus transmitted?
Marburg virus is transmitted between people through infected body fluids such as saliva and blood, the Public Health Agency writes on its website. Relatives and healthcare professionals should be careful as they carry a higher risk of becoming infected.
Even contact with dead bodies before a funeral can spread the virus.
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What symptoms do people infected with Marburg virus have?
The time from when a person is infected until they develop symptoms is between 2 and 21 days. The symptoms are rapidly developing with high fever, headache, muscle aches and general malaise.
At the end of the course of the disease, bleeding can occur on the skin and in internal organs, the Public Health Agency writes on its website.
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How are people infected with Marburg virus treated?
Unfortunately, there is no specific treatment for people infected with Marburg virus. According to The Public Health Authority healthcare professionals treat infected people based on their symptoms.