The virus was first identified in Marburg, Germany, in 1967. Suddenly more and more people were admitted to hospital with symptoms that initially resembled summer flu. But then the signs of the disease became more and more diffuse and the doctors realized that they were dealing with a dangerous and previously unknown enemy. Especially with someone who has had a long journey. “The fact that a virus was brought into Germany from Africa and then claimed lives here was new,” says Stephan Becker, virologist at the University of Marburg. Monkeys imported from Uganda for experiments brought it with them, and it was laboratory workers in particular who became infected. But there was also something good about the whole thing: “The outbreak was the initial spark for understanding such highly pathogenic viruses,” says Becker. “The problem with these infections is that the human immune system is not prepared for them. It reacts wrongly.” It cannot interpret these viruses. “This causes the immune system to overreact. It’s called a cytokine storm – it’s why people die from it.”
To date there is neither a vaccination nor medication. You can find out the whole story of how the virus was discovered here. (fairy)
