Marburg virus disease

Marburg virus disease is a severe disease that causes haemorrhagic fever in humans and animals. Diseases that cause haemorrhagic fevers, such as Marburg, are often fatal as they affect the body's vascular system (how blood moves through the body). This can lead to significant internal bleeding and organ failure.

The Marburg virus can spread through:

• contact with infected animals
• contact with blood, body fluids or tissues of infected persons
• contact with medical equipment (such as needles) contaminated with infected body fluids

Outbreaks of Marburg are largely in Africa. There have not been any cases in Canada.

As long as precautions are taken, there is low risk of contracting the Marburg virus in a country where the disease is present.