Marburg Virus

• Tanzania has recently confirmed its first-ever outbreak of Marburg virus, a highly contagious and deadly virus that causes viral hemorrhagic fever. 

• The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that the confirmation by Tanzania’s national public laboratory followed the death of five people in the northwest Kagera region who developed symptoms, which include fever, vomiting, bleeding, and renal failure. 

• Here’s what you need to know about the Marburg virus outbreak in Tanzania.

• Marburg virus is an Ebola-like virus that causes viral hemorrhagic fever. 

• The virus is the causative agent of Marburg virus disease (MVD), a disease with a case fatality ratio of up to 88%, but can be much lower with good patient care. 

• Both Marburg and Ebola viruses are members of the Filoviridae family (filovirus), and the two diseases are clinically similar.