Suspected Marburg virus cases in Germany ruled out after negative tests

According to reports, the two people traveled from Rwanda to Frankfurt am Main on an overnight flight on Tuesday. They then took a train to Hamburg in the north. During their trip, one of them reached out to medical professionals, worried that he may have picked up a tropical illness while in Rwanda.

Multiple media sources have repeatedly stated that the person in question is a medical student in his twenties.

Reports suggested that the people might have caught the Marburg virus while traveling. However, the Hamburg Social Authority, responsible for health issues as well, stated that their test results were negative.

A representative from the Social Authority informed Euractiv through email that the negative test results, along with the lack of symptoms during the trip, ensure there was no threat to others. The negative test verifies that no viruses were detected, meaning there was no possibility of Marburg virus transmission to passengers on the flight or train.

The Marburg virus leads to intense hemorrhagic fever, presenting symptoms such as muscle aches, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting blood. The World Health Organization reports that earlier outbreaks of this virus have had death rates between 24% and 88%.

A Breath Of Relief

The alarming viral disease was first reported in Rwanda at the end of September. While the exact origin and timing of the outbreak are still unknown, the Health Ministry stated that by October 1, there were approximately 36 confirmed cases, including 11 fatalities, with 25 individuals currently receiving treatment in isolation.

Rwanda, one of the smallest and most crowded nations in Africa, shares borders with Tanzania, where instances of the virus were reported in 2023, and Uganda, which experienced similar cases back in 2017.

The report raised alarms because of how quickly patients were being diagnosed; symptoms can sometimes take as long as 21 days to appear. This has led experts to worry that there may be more cases on the horizon, heightening the risk of a possible pandemic.

The virus is part of the same family as Ebola. It initially spreads from bats or monkeys to people, but it can also be transmitted between humans after that.

Unlike the flu or coronaviruses, this virus isn't spread through the air. Instead, it spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of someone who is infected, like blood or other fluids. It can also be transmitted through contaminated surfaces and items, such as bedding or clothing.

The time between exposure and the onset of symptoms can vary from two to 21 days, and at this moment, there is no specific treatment or vaccine available.

The earliest recorded outbreak took place in 1967 in Marburg, Germany. During this incident, 29 lab technicians contracted the virus from monkeys involved in experiments, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals. The virus was later named after the city where this outbreak happened.

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