Marburg Virus Disease (MVD or Marburg) is a rare but severe type of viral hemorrhagic fever that is caused by the Marburg virus. Marburg is very contagious and can cause serious illness and death. Symptoms include fever, rash, and severe bleeding.
āAbāout Marburg
Marburg virus is a filovirus naturally found in a certain type of bat (Egyptian fruit bat) and is most commonly found in parts of Africa. People and other primates (like apes and monkeys) can get Marburg from contact with infected bats or other infected primates. Once a person is sick with Marburg, they can spread the disease to other people.
People can get Marburg if they have had contact with:
- Blood or other body fluids of a person who is sick with or has died from Marburg
- Infected animals (bats and primates)
- Needles or other objects that are contaminated with Marburg virus
Symptoms
A person infected with Marburg virus is not contagious (able to spread the virus) before
symptomsā appear. If a person has Marburg, symptoms usually start with:
- Fever
- Chills
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Rash with both flat and raised bumps, often on the torso
- Chest pain
- Sore throat
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
These initial symptoms appear 2ā21 days after a person is infected with Marburg virus. As the disease gets worse, multiple organ systems in the body are affected and symptoms can become more severe, including:
- Liver failure
- Sudden change in mental state in which a person is confused, disoriented, and not able to think or remember clearly (delirium)
- Shock
- Bleeding
Treatment and Outcomes
There is no specific treatment or approved vaccines for Marburg, though these are being developed. Early diagnosis and supportive care can help increase the chances of survival. Of every 10 people infected with Marburg, between two and nine people may die.