"Bleeding Eye Disease" Outbreak Slows, Alarming Global Health Experts
A deadly virus nicknamed “bleeding eye disease" is causing concern for global health officials, although a recent outbreak in Rwanda appears to be slowing. There, the Marburg virus disease (MVD) has claimed 15 lives and infected at least 66 people, according to the Rwandan Ministry of Health.
MVD, a close relative of the infamous Ebola virus, tends to be fatal and gets its chilling nickname from the gruesome symptom of bleeding from various orifices, including the eyes.
"Without treatment it is usually lethal, with an estimated case fatality rate of about 62 percent,” according to a research article published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information.
The initial outbreak sparked travel warnings from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UK’s National Health Service.
“In October the WHO warned against all travel to Rwanda, while the UK’s national public health agency warned travellers visiting Rwanda to avoid a host of activities such as participating in burial rituals or coming into contact with wild animals."
But recent data suggests a potential turning point, with 28 days without a new confirmed case and 22 days since the last patient was discharged from the hospital, according to Rwandan officials. The virus however, can have a long incubation period, meaning vigilant monitoring remains crucial.
This outbreak is not an isolated incident. Cases of another viral threat, monkeypox (often shortened to “Mpox”), have also recently been identified in the UK and California, further raising concerns among global health experts.
A Deadly Family Member:
The Marburg virus was first identified in 1967, after simultaneous outbreaks in Germany and what was then Yugoslavia.
"It’s part of a family of microorganisms known as filoviruses, which also includes the deadly Ebola. In fact, the two are ‘clinically almost indistinguishable’," explains the UK government website, Travel Health Pro.
Fruit bats are believed to be the natural reservoir of MVD, which then spreads to humans. This virus can lie dormant for up to 21 days before symptoms appear, with an average incubation period of five to nine days.
After a period of fever, often lasting five days, patients experience a cascade of alarming symptoms, including damage to blood vessels, internal bleeding, and psychological changes like confusion and aggression.
If left untreated, MVD can often be fatal. Though there are currently no specific antiviral therapies proven effective, a potential vaccine is undergoing clinical trials in Rwanda, offering a glimmer of hope in the fight against this deadly disease. Over 1,500 Rwandan healthcare workers have received the vaccine, according to the Sabin Vaccine Institute.
The WHO lists MVD as a priority disease for research and development due to its high pandemic potential, highlighting the urgent need for further understanding and effective treatments.
