02/27/2026 Public Health Education Topic: Marburg Virus Disease

Per CDC

Key points

• Marburg virus disease (Marburg) is a rare but severe hemorrhagic fever that can cause serious illness and death.

• Symptoms can be similar to other tropical diseases, making diagnosis challenging.

• There is no treatment or vaccine for Marburg.

• The disease spreads through contact with infected animals or people.

Overview

Marburg is a rare, severe viral hemorrhagic fever which affects both people and other primates, like apes and monkeys. Caused by infection with either Marburg virus or Ravn virus, both types of orthomarburgviruses, the disease can lead to serious illness or death. Symptoms can appear suddenly and may include fever, rash, and severe bleeding.

Orthomarburgviruses are naturally found in the Egyptian rousette bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) and can spread from bats to people. Marburg virus is most commonly found in sub-Saharan Africa.

Risk factors

Those most at risk for Marburg include:

• People in contact with Egyptian rousette bats or their excretions

• People caring for individuals sick with the disease without proper protective equipment

• People in contact with infected non-human primates

How it spreads

The Marburg virus is spread from infected Egyptian rousette bats to people. The virus is found in the saliva, urine, and feces of infected bats. Once the disease has "spilled over" from wildlife to people, those who are sick can spread the disease to other people.

Someone can become infected with the Marburg virus if they have contact (such as through broken skin or mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, or mouth) with:

• Body fluids of a person who is sick with or died from Marburg

• Objects contaminated with their fluids like clothes, bedding, needles and equipment

• Semen from a man who has recovered from infection with Marburg

To learn more visit: About Marburg | Marburg | CDC