Marburg virus is nature's wake-up call: A bird's-eye view

Abstract

Marburg virus (MARV), a member of Filoviridae family, is notorious for causing Marburg virus disease (MVD), one of the deadliest known infectious diseases. Over the past five decades, more than 15 MVD outbreaks have been reported in the African countries, and this has been reported from Equatorial Guinea on February 2023. Few bat species like Rousettus aegyptiacus and Hipposideros caffer, among other members of the Chiroptera order, may serve as a natural reservoir for the virus, which can transmit the disease to humans and other mammals. In humans, severe infections have been reported due to MVD and are characterized by clinical symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, pharyngitis, and diarrhea, eventually progressing to hemorrhagic manifestations. The disease carries an extremely high mortality and morbidity rate. Developing and implementing rapid, accurate, affordable, and efficient diagnostic and therapeutic measures is essential to address the substantial threat MARV poses. Increased focus on health education, enhancement of laboratory services and facilities, adherence to patient safety protocols, and robust surveillance systems are urgently needed to combat this fatal disease. This review aims to present a comprehensive summary of the various attributes and characteristics of MARV/MVD, along with strategies for its prevention and control. Further, this review article also discusses the potential role of medicinal plants in addressing health challenge.