Marburg virus outbreak in Tanzania (Update 2)
19 Feb 2025
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports continued occurrence of Marburg virus disease in the outbreak that was first reported on 20 January 2025.
As of 10 February 2025 there have been 10 cases, all of whom have died. The affected area is Kagera Region in the northeast of Tanzania, bordering Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda.
Advice for Travellers
Marburg virus disease is a type of viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF), similar to Ebola. The virus is found in African fruit bats and can be passed to people when they have contact with these bats, or the caves/mines in which they live. People can also be infected from contact with people, or monkeys or apes with Marburg virus disease. There is no specific treatment for Marburg virus disease and there no vaccine to prevent it.
In general, the risk to travellers becoming infected or developing Marburg virus disease is extremely low. However:
- If you are travelling to a known Marburg outbreak area, you must be aware of the risk of infection and transmission routes of Marburg virus.
- Medical personnel travelling to work in an outbreak region must follow strict infection prevention control guidance.
If you return home from a Marburg outbreak area, you should seek rapid medical attention by contacting NHS 24 (Scotland) or NHS 111 (rest of UK) for advice prior to attending UK medical facilities if you develop a high temperature (fever) and have:
- returned to the UK within 21 days from a region or area where there is an outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease
- had contact with people infected with a VHF
If you are travelling to the affected areas to work in response to the outbreak, seek risk assessment advice and training from your employer / organisation before travel. You must also be registered with the UKHSA Ebola and Marburg: returning workers scheme (RWS) before travel.
The Tanzanian Ministry of Health has also issued a specific travel advisory for the affected area.
For further information, see the fitfortravel Viral Haemorrhagic Fever page.