The World’s Deadliest Cave is Not Home to A Scary Beast, But Something More Sinister

When you’re talking about something like “the World’s deadliest cave,” it’s obvious how visuals of Eerie evil creatures and haunted spaces spring to mind. Kitum Cave, located in Mount Elgon National Park in Kenya is none of that, but deadlier. What exists inside is real with the ability to host a new pandemic. Evidence of Kitum Cave, a favorite haunt of elephants is still lacking because humans who once ventured inside have either mysteriously succumbed or been infected with the world’s worst pathogens breeding inside the cave.

Location and Discovery

Kitum Cave was discovered in 1980 lying nestled within a dormant volcano in Mount Elgon National Park on the border of Uganda and Kenya. The cave extends about 200 meters into the mountainside and has long been a site of interest for tourists, wildlife enthusiasts, and researchers, although not many dare to venture inside. The cave is a favorite haunt of elephants who frequent the cave to carve and break of salt that line the cave walls. Along with elephants, the cave is also visited by buffaloes, hyenas, bushbucks, and other animals in search of the salt left by elephants.

The Cave’s First Victim

Most researchers believe the cave to harbor two of the world’s deadliest viruses, Marburg Virus Disease or MVD, and Ebola. In fact, it could also be the source from where these diseases have originated. In 1980, a Frenchman ventured inside the cave. A few days later, he was hospitalized with the Marburg virus, which dissolved most of the connective tissue on his face. Unfortunately, he did not make it and passed away at the Nairobi Hospital. More infections were reported from those who visited the cave, including a second fatality, a Danish teenager in 1987.

A Reservoir of Pathogens

The infections and mysterious fatalities led researchers to believe that the cave was a hub of pathogens, including the Ebola and Marburg virus. Scientists have also realized that the frequent presence of a variety of animals in the cave has turned Kitum into an incubator for zoonotic diseases. Despite extensive research, the exact source within the cave remained unclear until bats were found to be likely carriers of these deadly viruses. Bats, especially fruit-eating species, were discovered to harbor Marburg virus, and their guano likely played a role in spreading the virus.

The Home of The Egyptian Fruit Bat

Inside Kitum Cave, researchers have uncovered several factors contributing to the viral outbreaks. The cave is home to various species of bats, including Egyptian fruit bats, which are now believed to be the natural reservoir of the Marburg virus. The environment is rich in bat guano, a potential source of airborne pathogens. Research has shown that the inhalation of this guano could lead to the transmission of Marburg. Though investigations also investigated the cave as a source of the Ebola virus, its precise origins remain elusive.

What is Ebola?

Ebola is a viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the Ebola virus, first identified in 1976 near the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The disease is highly contagious and spreads through contact with bodily fluids, leading to severe bleeding, organ failure, and death. Ebola outbreaks have occurred mainly in African regions, with a fatality rate ranging between 25% and 90%, depending on the strain and the outbreak response. The deadliest outbreak of Ebola occurred in 2014-2016 when more than 11,000 people succumbed to the disease (most in West African Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone).

What is Marburg?

Marburg virus, or MVD, like Ebola, causes hemorrhagic fever and has an even higher fatality rate, often exceeding 80%. It was first identified in 1967 when it occurred as a mysterious disease in Germany and Yugoslavia. Scientists found it to be a filamentous RNA virus source traced to the vervet monkeys imported from Uganda. Further research and Marburg outbreaks have been traced back to exposure to fruit bats and their environments, as seen in the Kitum Cave incidents. The symptoms include severe headaches, fever, internal bleeding, and organ failure, making it one of the deadliest viruses known to humanity.

The Seriousness of Marburg and Statistics

Marburg virus disease is known for its rapid onset and severe effects. It has a fatality rate between 23% and 88%, depending on the medical response. Since its discovery, there have been 13 known outbreaks of Marburg, with some of the most significant outbreaks occurring in Angola and Uganda. Both Marburg and Ebola belong to the same Filoviridae family (filovirus). Though caused by different viruses, the two diseases are clinically similar. Both diseases are rare and can cause outbreaks with high fatality rates. Recent warnings from health experts suggest that Kitum Cave could be the source of future pandemics if preventive measures are not taken seriously.

Symptoms of Marburg and Ebola Virus

Confirming how visits to caves like Kitum can contract Marburg, the WHO report on Marburg writes, “Initially, human MVD infection results from prolonged exposure to mines or caves inhabited by Rousettus bat colonies.”

The symptoms of Marburg begin with severe headaches, high fever, and malaise, followed by vomiting, diarrhea, and severe abdominal pain. The disease progresses quickly, leading to hemorrhaging, both internal and external, as the virus causes damage to blood vessels and organs. In its final stages, patients may experience bleeding from the eyes and other orifices. Symptoms of Ebola are similar with an onset of fever, severe headache, muscle pain, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting. Later, if not treated, symptoms include bleeding, organ failure, and, often, death.

Can Ebola and Marburg Affect the USA

Several medical experts, researchers, and the World Health Organization have been working on a war footing to halt Marburg. In 2023, teams from the WHO spread across Africa to stem the virus after it was discovered in other caves besides Kitum across the continent. Marburg can be transmitted into humans from fruit bats and has the potential to spread between people through body fluid contact from infected persons. While Marburg and Ebola don’t pose a danger yet to the US, the CDC, in a warning issued on its website on April 6th, 2023, said Doctors need to be alert for imported cases.

Precautions and Future Risks

According to experts, Marburg and Ebola have the potential to become pandemics. However, people are more vigilant and educated enough from the last pandemic to exercise greater precautions than before. Currently there is no FDA-approved medication for Marburg. Only precautions and immediate medical intervention can help prevent an unfavorable outcome. Moreover, in Kenya, avoiding contact with bats and other wildlife, particularly in areas like Kitum Cave, where outbreaks have been known to originate. Health authorities continue to monitor areas like Mount Elgon National Park for signs of viral activity. At the same time, researchers focus on better understanding the reservoirs and transmission pathways of these deadly viruses.