Report Confirmed or Suspect Cases Immediately to the Local Health Department.
Marburg virus disease (MVD) is a rare but severe hemorrhagic fever, similar to Ebola, that can cause serious illness and death. Symptoms can appear suddenly, and the early symptoms may be similar to other infectious diseases; they may include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, rash, chest pain, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. As the disease progresses, patients may develop bleeding (hemorrhage) organ failure, shock, and delirium. The Marburg virus is spread from infected fruit bats to people and those who are sick can spread the disease to other people. Transmission of Marburg virus to others occurs through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected, symptomatic person or with the body of a person who has died from Marburg. It is also spread through exposure to objects (such as needles, bedding, and clothing) that have been contaminated with infected body fluids, and to semen from a man who has recovered from Marburg. People with MVD usually start getting sick 2-21 days after they are infected with the virus. There is currently no vaccine to prevent Marburg virus disease and no specific medicine that cures people infected with MVD. People with MVD will receive supportive medical care and early treatment is best.
