Marburg Virus Outbreak Alert Reissued

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reissued its Alert - Level 2, Practice Enhanced Precautions notice regarding the ongoing Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak in the Republic of Equatorial Guinea.

As of May 12, 2023, the CDC says, 'Reconsider non-essential travel to mainland Equatorial Guinea.'

If you travel to Equatorial Guinea, you should:

• Avoid contact with sick people with fever, muscle pain, and rash symptoms.
• Avoid contact with blood and other body fluids.
• Avoid contact with dead bodies or items that have been in contact with dead bodies, participate in funeral or burial rituals, or attend a funeral or burial.
• Avoid visiting healthcare facilities in the outbreak area for nonurgent medical care or non-medical reasons.
• Avoid visiting traditional healers.
• Avoid contact with fruit bats and the caves and mines where they live.
• Avoid nonhuman primates (e.g., chimpanzees, gorillas).

Furthermore, visitors should watch their health for symptoms of Marburg, a viral hemorrhagic fever, while in the outbreak area and 21 days after leaving the outbreak area.

As of May 14, 2023, other Marburg outbreak alerts have been issued this year for Africa. 

Unfortunately, there are no Marburg vaccines available.