Rare, highly fatal virus cause by a virus of the Filoviridae family.
Caused by the Marburg virus, single-stranded, negative sense RNA virus.
Infections occur in Africa as well as sporadically outside Africa in travelers returning home from that continent.
Like Ebola this virus hides in nature and appears sporadically and then disappears.
Sudden onset and rapid clinical deterioration are typical, associated is profound hemorrhagic symptoms with high mortality rate.
Fatality rate of recent outbreak as high as 92%.
Infects its host when mucosal surfaces or abraded skin are exposed to infected body fluids.
Infection also occurs through parenteral inoculation.
A potential exists as an agent of biot2242orism.