Marburg virus outbreak in Tanzania: confirmed

On 20 January 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Government of Tanzania confirmed an outbreak of Marburg virus disease in Biharamulo and Muleba Districts, Kagera Region, Tanzania.

As of 20 January 2025, there have been 20 suspected cases and 1 confirmed case. Eight deaths have been reported.

Kagera Region is in the northeast of Tanzania, bordering Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda. An outbreak of Marburg virus disease occurred in Kagera in 2023. More recently, an outbreak of Marburg virus disease occurred in neighbouring Rwanda in late 2024.

Advice to travellers

Marburg virus disease is a type of viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF). Humans may become infected from direct contact with the reservoir host, African fruit bats or from direct contact or droplet spread from infected humans or non-human primates.

In general, the risk to travellers becoming infected or developing Marburg virus disease is extremely low.

• Travellers to known Marburg outbreak areas must be made 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.

Travellers returning from a Marburg outbreak area 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 they develop 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 individuals infected with a VHF.

For further information, see the TRAVAX Viral Haemorrhagic Fever page.