Nine people in Equatorial Guinea, an African nation, have perished as a result of the Marburg virus.
The Marburg virus is a haemorrhagic fever virus, just like the Ebola virus. It is classified as a member of the Filoviridae family.
The Marburg virus was first identified in 1967, when an outbreak occurred among laboratory workers in Marburg, Germany who had been exposed to infected monkeys.
The virus is primarily found in sub-Saharan Africa, with outbreaks occurring in Uganda, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The virus is spread through contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals or animals, such as blood, saliva, and feces.
The virus can cause severe illness in humans, including fever, headache, muscle aches, and bleeding from the eyes, nose, and mouth.
The virus can also be transmitted through contact with contaminated surfaces or objects, such as needles or medical equipment.
There is currently no approved vaccine for Marburg virus, but researchers are actively working to develop one.