Filoviruses (Ebola and Marburg)

Overview

Filoviruses are single-stranded RNA viruses in the Filoviridae family that cause severe symptoms and if untreated, can cause death in humans, primates, and animals like bats.

Population growth, deforestation, and wildlife interactions (e.g., bushmeat consumption) can introduce filoviruses to humans. The virus spreads through direct contact with an infected person’s body fluids, with caretakers and healthcare providers without proper PPE at highest risk.

Symptoms & Diagnosis

There are two viruses in this virus family that are responsible for illness in humans most often, Ebola and Marburg.

Ebola Virus Disease

Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a severe illness caused by the Ebola virus, with a death rate of 50-90%. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, and loss of appetite. Some may also experience rash, red eyes, hiccups, cough, sore throat, chest pain, trouble breathing or swallowing, and internal or external bleeding.

EVD symptoms often begin with "dry" symptoms like fever, aches, and fatigue. As the illness worsens, "wet" symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, and unexplained bleeding may appear.

Symptoms usually start 4-10 days after exposure but can occur between 2-21 days. Six ebolavirus species exist, with four known to cause disease in humans.

Marburg Virus Disease

Marburg virus disease (MVD) is a severe illness caused by the Marburg virus, with a death rate of 23-90%. Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and a rash, often on the trunk. Nausea, vomiting, chest pain, sore throat, abdominal pain, or diarrhea may also occur.

Symptoms appear 2-21 days after exposure, with rash developing around day 5. As the disease progresses, severe symptoms like liver failure, delirium, shock, bleeding, and multi-organ failure may occur.

Treatment

Ebola Virus Disease

Health care providers caring for Ebola patients, and family and friends in close contact with an ill person are at highest risk because they may come into contact with blood or body fluids.

Marburg Virus Disease

Health care providers caring for Marburg patients, and family and friends in close contact with an ill person are at highest risk because they may come into contact with blood or body fluids.

Prevention

Avoid contact with body fluids

Avoid contact with body fluids from people and animals, including

• Blood and body fluids, like urine, feces, saliva, sweat, vomit, breast milk, amniotic fluid, semen, and vaginal fluid from people who are sick
• Semen from someone who has recovered from Ebola disease, until testing shows that the virus is no longer in the semen
• Clothes, bedding, needles, medical equipment, or other items that may have touched an infected person's blood or body fluids
• The body of someone who is suspected or confirmed to have had Ebola disease (such as during a funeral or burial practices)
• Bats, forest antelopes, primates, and blood, fluids, or raw meat from these or unknown animals

Wear protective equipment

Wear protective equipment if you come in contact with people who are sick or have died from Ebola disease, their blood and bodily fluids, or objects covered with their blood or body fluids.

Resources