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Marburg FAQs
- What is Marbug?
- What illness does it cause (symptoms)?
- How is it spread?
- What locations are at risk for Marburg?
- How is it treated?
- Is there a vaccine?
- Who is most at risk?
- Are there any travel restrictions?
- How can I protect myself?
- If someone is suspected / confirmed to have mpox, can International SOS evacuate them?
Marburg is a rare, severe haemorrhagic fever found in Africa. It infects humans and other primates. The virus is carried by a fruit bat that lives in caves. It is presumed that non-human primates become infected, and then humans contract the virus through the secretions of infected animals.
Infected people can then spread the virus to other people through direct unprotected contact. The virus is present in body secretions, including blood and sexual fluids, as well as tissues and organs.
What illness does it cause (symptoms)?
The time between infection and development of symptoms can range between 2 to 21 days, though people typically become ill within 5-10 days after contracting the virus. Symptoms develop suddenly. These include fever, chills, headache and muscle pain. A rash may appear on the patient's chest, back and stomach around the fifth day of illness. Nausea, vomiting, chest and abdominal pain, sore throat and diarrhea may develop.
As the disease progresses, increasingly severe symptoms occur such as jaundice, inflammation of the pancreas, severe weight loss, shock, delirium, massive haemorrhage and organ dysfunction. Haemorrhage most commonly occurs in the lungs and gastrointestinal tract. About 25 percent of those infected die of the disease, though the fatality rate varies and may be much higher during specific outbreaks.
People who have Marburg can spread the virus to others through close contact, as the virus is present in body secretions, including blood and sexual fluids. People may be able to pass along the virus via sexual contact for several weeks after their symptoms disappear. The virus is also present in organs and tissues of infected people.
What locations are at risk for Marburg?
Rwanda has reported its first Marburg infections.
Most Marburg outbreaks have occurred in Sub Saharan Africa. Since 2020, outbreaks have been reported from Tanzania, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana and Guinea.
Early identification and supportive treatment in specialised treatment units is required.
While there are currently no approved vaccines available for Marburg virus disease, active research and development are in progress. Clinical trials in Rwanda have begun (see news).
Those most at risk include:
- People in contact with Egyptian rousette bats or their excretions
- People caring for individuals sick with Marburg disease without proper protective equipment
- People in contact with infected non-human primates
Are there any travel restrictions?
US CDC has recommended travellers reconsider nonessential travel.
WHO and Africa CDC have advised against travel restrictions in response to the Marburg outbreak.
- Avoid direct contact with animals, including bats. Both dead and live animals pose a risk. Do not eat bats or “bush meat” from gorillas, monkeys, and other primates.
- Avoid bat-infested caves.
- Avoid close contact with sick people.
- Do not participate in high-risk activities such as funerals in outbreak areas. (Do not touch / wash dead bodies.)
- Avoid hospitals that are treating suspected Marburg cases.
- Maintain high levels of personal hygiene, wash hands well and often.
If someone is suspected / confirmed to have Marburg, can International SOS evacuate them?
International SOS is highly experienced in evacuating patients with infectious diseases, having safely and successfully transported patients with infectious diseases requiring in-transport isolation in many regions of the world.
Considerations
International evacuation of patients exposed to, or with confirmed Marburg Viral Disease (MVD) or another viral haemorrhagic fever is highly complex. Patients with confirmed MVD would only be considered suitable for movement with the use of patient isolation transport units and the patient clinical picture being suitable for safe transport in these isolation units.
- Generally, the more serious the condition of the patient, the more unlikely transport will be possible or realistic in patient isolation transport units.
- Patients with exposure or suspected exposure without symptoms are transportable, provided relevant health authority support is in place.
International SOS has identified a limited number of air ambulance providers who have indicated that they are willing to consider the transport of patients with MVD exposure, known or suspected MVD.
International SOS Marburg movement capability statement (PDF, 290KB)
