The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to inform clinicians and health departments about the Republic of Rwanda’s first confirmed outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) with 36 laboratory confirmed cases and 11 deaths reported as of October 2, 2024, including at least 19 cases in healthcare workers. 

CDC Health Alert Network Communications

Background

Marburg Virus Disease is a rare but highly fatal viral hemorrhagic fever caused by infection with either Marburg virus or Ravn virus. Both Marburg virus and Ravn virus are within the family which also includes Ebola viruses. A person infected with the Marburg virus is not contagious before symptoms appear. Symptoms may include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal symptoms, or unexplained bleeding. The virus is spread through direct contact with broken skin or mucous membranes with the body fluids of someone who is sick with MVD, or who recently died from their infection. These body fluids include blood, urine, saliva, sweat, feces, vomit, breast milk, amniotic fluid, or semen. People can also contract MVD if they have contact with infected animals, or with needles, or with other objects or surfaces contaminated with the virus. Marburg virus is not spread through airborne transmission.

Access revised guidelines here: https://netec.org/2023/03/09/ems-guidelines-for-marburg-virus-disease/