ABSTRACT
Marburg and Ebola virus infections are indigenous only to Africa, especially the central and eastern equatorial regions. Their causative agents were named, respectively, after the German town of Marburg and the Ebola river in northern Zaire where these infections were first reported. Despite intensive investigations using some of the most advanced technology available and sparing no expense, nothing is currently known about the natural cycle of the Marburg and Ebola viruses. Infusion of convalescent plasma containing specific Marburg or Ebola antibodies has been tried, and interferon has also been used. Intensive care facilities are needed for the more seriously ill patients who also require regular laboratory monitoring of various functions including their coagulation status. The patient’s history and the geographic, occupational, recreational, and other epidemiologic data will, in any given case, considerably narrow the diagnostic probabilities.
