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Marburg virus disease in Equatorial Guinea - update 3

18 Apr 2023

The Health Ministry of Equatorial Guinea reports continuing transmission of Marburg virus disease in Equatorial Guinea.

As of 16 April 2023, there have been 38 cases, of whom 34 have died. The outbreak began in Kie-Ntem Province and has spread to Litoral, Centre-Sur and Wele-Nzas Provinces.

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 the fitfortravel Viral Haemorrhagic Fever page.