A train station platform in Hamburg, Germany, was sealed off amid fears that the deadly and incurable Marburg Virus may have reached Europe. The virus has infected 36 people in Rwanda, marking the first outbreak of the disease in the country. Officials are now working to trace over 400 individuals who had contact with the infected patients. Similar to Ebola, Marburg Virus can cause severe hemorrhaging and has an 88% fatality rate. As of now, there is no vaccine or cure for the virus.
The incident at the train station occurred when a man and his girlfriend developed flu-like symptoms during their journey from Frankfurt. The man, reportedly a medical student, had been treating an individual in another country who later developed an infectious disease. Upon arrival in Frankfurt from Rwanda, the man and his girlfriend were taken to a specialist clinic by police and firefighters. Platform four at the station was temporarily closed before reopening.
The World Health Organisation has advised against travel to Rwanda due to the outbreak, with at least eight fatalities reported so far. Marburg virus disease (MVD) is a severe hemorrhagic fever caused by the Marburg virus, closely related to Ebola. The virus is believed to spread to humans from animals like fruit bats, acting as the natural reservoir.
Symptoms of MVD include fever, severe headaches, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and unexplained bleeding or bruising. There is currently no specific antiviral treatment or vaccine for MVD, though supportive care can improve survival rates. Experimental vaccines and treatments are under development, and early medical intervention can help reduce the fatality rate associated with the disease.
The outbreak in Rwanda and the incident at the train station in Hamburg highlight the global concern surrounding infectious diseases and the importance of swift and coordinated responses to prevent further spread.