Hamburg train station: Infection alarm after suspected Marburg virus!

Hamburg train station: Infection alarm after suspected Marburg virus!

A worrying incident in Germany has made both the authorities and the public on alert. A 26-year-old medical student who worked in a hospital in Rwanda dealt with the Covid 19 patient, showed symptoms and alerted the medical departments during a train journey. The student and his accompaniment were brought to the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf with strict protective measures, where they were placed under quarantine. The federal police then locked two tracks while the fire brigade was in use with special infection vehicles. In order to understand potential infections, the contact details of other passengers were recorded.

The risk of Marburg virus

The Marburg virus belongs to the same family as the dreaded Ebolavirus and is feared for its extreme contagion and high mortality rate. According to the World Health Organization, up to 88 percent of those suffering died in past outbreaks. Symptoms include high fever, muscle pain, abdominal cramps, diarrhea and bloody vomiting, which can lead to death in severe cases. Rwanda is currently affected by an increase in infections.

The discovery of the virus dates back to 1967 in Marburg when laboratory employees were contaminated by experimental monuments. Seven of 29 infectious people died. To date, there are no vaccines or effective treatment methods, which reinforces the threat to the virus. Infections are made through direct contact with body fluids, such as saliva or blood, and even small amounts can already be sufficient to trigger infection.

The news about this suspicion has drawn attention to the pressing questions about health care and the willingness of the authorities. In view of the potential risks associated with the Marburg virus, it remains to be seen how the situation will develop. Further information provides, among other things, Deutschlandfunk .