MARV

The Marburg virus is a hemorrhagic fever virus of the Filoviridae family of viruses and a member of the species Marburg marburgvirus, genus Marburgvirus. The Marburg virus (MARV) is a form of viral hemorrhagic fever that causes Marburg virus disease in humans and nonhuman primates. The virus is considered extremely dangerous. The World Health Organization (WHO) rates it as a Risk Group 4 Pathogen (requiring biosafety level 4-equivalent containment). The virus can be transmitted by exposure to a species of fruit bats or via body fluids through unprotected copulation and broken skin. The disease can cause bleeding (haemorrhage), fever and other symptoms, much like Ebola. Funeral rituals are a particular risk. Actual treatment of the virus after infection is not possible but early and professional treatment of symptoms such as dehydration can considerably increase survival chances.