History of Marburg

The Marburg virus was first recognised in 1967 during two simultaneous outbreaks in Marburg and Frankfurt, Germany, and Belgrade, Yugoslavia (now Serbia). The outbreaks were linked to African green monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) imported from Uganda. 31 cases were reported at the time, with 7 deaths (23% case fatality rate).

Previous Outbreaks

They include accidents in laboratories and research.

  • 1975: An outbreak in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and Johannesburg, South Africa, with 3 human cases and 1 fatality.
  • 1980: An outbreak in Kenya with 2 human cases and 1 fatality.
  • 1987: A single case of Marburg virus disease was reported in Kenya.
  • 1988: A laboratory accident occurred in the Soviet Union (now Russia), resulting in 1 human case and 1 fatality.
  • 2004-2005: Outbreak in Angola
  • 2007: Outbreak in Uganda
  • 2009: Clinical trials of Ebola and Marburg vaccine begin in Uganda
  • 2012: Outbreak in Uganda
  • 2014: Outbreak in Uganda
  • 2017: Outbreak in Uganda
  • 2021: Outbreak in Guinea
  • 2022: Outbreaks in Ghana and Equatorial Guinea
  • 2023: Outbreaks in Tanzania and Rwanda

This virus causes severe viral haemorrhagic fever in humans.

Marburg is a member of the Filoviridae family (filovirus), along with Ebola. Though caused by different viruses, the two diseases are clinically similar. Both diseases are rare and have the capacity to cause outbreaks with high fatality rates.

If you are a UK traveller, please check updates from the FCDO on Foreign Travel Advice.