Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (VHFs)
Overview
In Focus: Marburg
Marburg Virus Disease (MVD)
Marburg virus disease (MVD) is a rare hemorrhagic fever that causes severe disease and death. The Marburg virus is spread from bats that live in the African continent and can infect humans and primates when they come into contact with these bats or their saliva, urine, or feces. MVD can also be spread between infected animals and humans. There is no FDA-approved vaccine or cure for MVD and between 20-90 percent of people with the disease will die. There have been no cases of MVD among American workers, but outbreaks of disease occur sporadically in Sub-Saharan Africa and some of these have been linked to miners who enter caves that are habitats for bats that carry MVD.
Along with smallpox, anthrax, plague, botulism, and tularemia, hemorrhagic fever viruses are among the six agents identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as the most likely to be used as biological weapons. Many VHFs can cause severe, life-threatening disease with high fatality rates.
Hazard Recognition
Provides references to aid in recognizing disease characteristics and hazards associated with VHFs.
Medical Response
Provides references that focus on the preparedness and response of the medical community in the event of a terrorist attack involving VHFs.
Control and Prevention
Includes references that provide information about the control and prevention of exposures to VHFs.