Catchy, Easy to Dance to: Marburg

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The exact source of Marburg is unknown, but it is indigenous to Africa. It must have a natural host in some animal and that host would have to be a species that can deal with virus. That rules out monkeys as the original source because when they catch Marburg, they tend to have even higher death rates than humans do. How the animal host initially transmits Marburg virus to humans is unknown.

It seems like every now and then deadly viruses like Ebola and Marburg crop up somewhere in the world just to remind us that there are diseases out there that the human race can’t seem to conquer. Marburg was first documented in the 1960s when scientific researchers in the city of Marburg, Germany and Belgrade, Yugoslavia contracted it from imported African monkeys. Thirty-two people (including laboratory workers, medical personnel, and family members) came down with the virus.

The current outbreak in Angola is the first report of Marburg virus disease since 1998-2000. Then, the largest known outbreak, up until now, occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo. That epidemic resulted in 149 cases and 123 deaths. At last count, double that amount (around 300 people) have died due to the current outbreak in Angola.

According to the World Health Organization, this most recent outbreak in Angola is the largest and deadliest Marburg outbreak on record. Whereas the fatality rate for Marburg has historically been between 23 to 25%, the fatality rate this time around is roughly 90%. That means that nine out of ten people who have contracted Marburg in Angola have died. For comparison’s sake, outbreaks of the similar Ebola virus have had fatality rates ranging from approximately 53% to 88%. The only other massive outbreak of Marburg (the one in the Democratic Republic of Congo from 1998-2000) had a mortality rate of 83%.

Unfortunately, death rituals in Angola tend to perpetuate the disease. Most Angolan families consider kissing and embracing the body of a dead relative as an important funeral rite, yet these acts can easily spread the disease. In fact, the simple act of touching an infected corpse can lead to infection. However, convincing Angolans to change traditional rituals is a big barrier to controlling the outbreak. The World Health Organization has noted that it is extremely difficult to persuade people that handling corpses can spread the deadly disease. To this end, a series of radio and TV public service announcements are being broadcast on national media in Angola. This will hopefully educate people and assist in stopping the epidemic.

In some areas, it seems to be working. It has been reported by global news organizations that locals in some Angolan cities have stopped greeting friends and acquaintances with a hug and, instead, locals touch right legs covered by pants. In other areas however, international health workers face suspicion and some residents even accuse them of spreading the disease. This is understandable since victims who are taken to an isolation ward are often never seen again.

Angola has certainly had its fair share of bad luck over the years. There was a civil war for nearly three decades, which all but destroyed the country's transport systems. You wouldn’t think that Angola’s dilapidated road system and crumbling infrastructure is a good thing in any respect, but when it comes to a disease like Marburg, it is actually an advantage. The poor infrastructure of the country has actually slowed the spread of the Marburg outbreak, since those who are infected are not able to easily travel.

However, before you decide that traveling just isn’t worth the risk of catching a deadly virus, remember that you are much more likely to get hit by lightning while walking out of your local 7-11 than you are of catching Marburg while traveling. While there is absolutely no reason for travelers to panic about the frightening diseases that exist in the world, it doesn’t hurt to be informed. As far as my own attempt to travel to the source of the Ebola virus, now I’m actually glad I didn’t make it to Kitum Cave. As it turns out I really don’t have any urge to catch a fatal hemorrhagic virus. Better safe than sorry.

Amy Loftsgordon is a contributing editor at InsideOut Travel Magazine and works as a lawyer in Colorado, though she much prefers airports to courtrooms.

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