History of Marburg Disease Outbreaks

A fatal suspect case of Marburg disease was identified in the Ashanti region of Ghana on July 7, 2022. Marburg disease was initially detected through testing at Ghana’s national laboratory and confirmed at the Institut Pasteur in Dakar, Senegal, marking the first detection of Marburg disease in Ghana. Shortly after, two additional family members were also confirmed to have Marburg disease. No additional cases outside the family cluster were identified. The outbreak was declared over in September. There were three cases and 2 deaths (67 percent fatality rate).

One case was reported and confirmed by the Guinean Ministry of Health in a patient who was diagnosed after death. No additional cases were confirmed after more than 170 high-risk contacts were monitored for 21 days (100 percent fatality rate).

A blood sample from Kween District in Eastern Uganda tested positive for Marburg virus. Within 24 hours of confirmation, a rapid outbreak response was begun. This outbreak occurred as a family cluster with no additional transmission outside of the four related cases. There were four cases and three deaths (75 percent fatality rate).

Overall, one case was confirmed (fatal) and 197 contacts were followed for 21 days. Out of these 197 contacts, eight developed symptoms similar to Marburg, but all tested negative at the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) with support from CDC (100 percent fatality rate).

Testing at CDC/UVRI identified a Marburg virus disease outbreak in the districts of Kabale, Ibanda, Mbarara, and Kampala over a 3-week period. There were 15 cases and 4 deaths (27 percent fatality rate).

A 40-year-old Dutch woman with a recent history of travel to Uganda was admitted to hospital in the Netherlands. She had visited a cave in Maramagambo forest in Uganda, at the southern edge of Queen Elizabeth National Park). Three days before hospitalization, the first symptoms (fever, chills) occurred, followed by a rapid deterioration in her health. The woman died on the 10th day of the illness (100% fatality rate).

A U.S traveler returned from Uganda in January 2008. The patient developed illness four days after returning, was hospitalized, discharged and fully recovered. The patient was later diagnosed with Marburg virus infection.

This was a small outbreak, with four cases in young males working in a lead and gold mine. To date, there have been no additional cases identified. There was one death (25 percent fatality rate).

The outbreak is believed to have begun in Uige Province in October 2004. Most cases detected in other provinces have been linked directly to the outbreak in Uige. There were 252 cases and 227 deaths (90 percent fatality rate).

Most cases occurred in young male workers at a gold mine in Durba, in the northeastern part of the country, which proved to be the epicenter of the outbreak. Cases were later detected in the neighboring village of Watsa. There were 154 cases and 128 deaths (83 percent fatality rate).

This outbreak occurred through laboratory contamination. There was one case and the patient died. (100 percent fatality rate).

A 15-year-old Danish boy was hospitalized with a 3-day history of headache, malaise, fever, and vomiting. Nine days prior to symptom onset, he had visited Kitum Cave in Mount Elgon National Park. Despite aggressive supportive therapy, the patient died on the 11th day of illness. No further cases were detected. (100 percent fatality rate).

The patient had recently traveled, including a visit to Kitum Cave in Kenya’s Mount Elgon National Park. Despite specialized care in Nairobi, the male patient died. A doctor who attempted to revive the patient developed symptoms nine days later but recovered. There were two cases and one death (50 percent fatality rate).

A man with a recent travel history to Zimbabwe was admitted to hospital in South Africa. Infection spread from the man to his traveling companion and a nurse at the hospital. The man died, but both women were given vigorous supportive treatment and eventually recovered (33 percent fatality rate).

Simultaneous outbreaks occurred in laboratory workers handling African green monkeys imported from Uganda. In addition to the 31 reported cases, an additional primary case was later diagnosed by blood test. There were 31 cases and 7 deaths (23 percent fatality rate).