Marburg virus disease
There's currently a Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda. If you've travelled to Rwanda or have come in close contact with someone who has travelled to Rwanda, monitor yourself for symptoms. If you develop symptoms, contact your local public health authority immediately.
If you're planning to travel to Rwanda, please consult the travel health notice.
Causes
What causes Marburg virus disease? How is it spread?
Recent evidence suggests that the likely source of initial human cases is through contact with infected animals. Once a person is infected, the virus can spread through person-to-person contact.
Marburg virus can be spread through:
- contact with infected animals (bats, monkeys, gorillas, pigs, etc.)
- contact with blood, body fluids (such as urine, saliva, semen, breast milk, sweat) or tissues of infected persons
- contact with objects (such as clothing, bedding medical equipment) that are contaminated with infected body fluids
Exposure can also occur in health care settings when staff members do not wear appropriate protective equipment, such as masks, gowns, goggles and gloves.
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