Marburg virus disease in Equatorial Guinea (Kie Ntem Province) - update 1
03 Mar 2023
The World Health Organisation continues to report an outbreak of Marburg virus disease in Kie Ntem Province, northern Equatorial Guinea. As of 3 March 2023, 9 cases have been identified, all of whom have died.
Forty-eight contacts are being followed up and the Ministry of Health reports a further 2 people have died with symptoms similar to Marburg virus disease. Further investigations are ongoing.
This is the first outbreak of Marburg virus disease in Equatorial Guinea.
Advice for Travellers
Marburg virus disease is a type of viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF), similar to Ebola. The virus is found in African fruit bats and can be passed to people when they have contact with these bats, or the caves/mines in which they live. People can also be infected from contact with people, or monkeys or apes with Marburg virus disease.
The risk to travellers becoming infected or developing Marburg virus disease is extremely low.
- If you are travelling to a known Marburg outbreak area, you must be aware of the risk of infection and transmission routes of Marburg virus.
- Medical personnel travelling to work in an outbreak region must follow strict infection prevention control guidance.
If you return home from a Marburg outbreak area, you should seek rapid medical attention by contacting NHS 24 (Scotland) or NHS 111 (rest of UK) for advice prior to attending UK medical facilities if you develop a high temperature (fever) and have:
- returned to the UK within 21 days from a region or area with a known outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease
- had contact with people infected with a VHF
For further information, see fitfortravel Viral Haemorrhagic Fever page.