What Is Marburg Virus Disease Detected In Uganda? The Deadly Infection With A Fatality Rate of Up To 88%

Last Updated:July 02, 2026, 19:39 IST

According to the WHO, Marburg virus disease has a case fatality rate ranging from 24 per cent to as high as 88 per cent.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed a case of Marburg virus disease (MVD) in Uganda, detected during enhanced surveillance for Ebola, prompting health authorities to closely monitor the situation.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the patient was identified through ongoing surveillance efforts and that all known contacts are being monitored.

“Health authorities have informed WHO that they are monitoring all identified contacts, but so far none have shown symptoms," Tedros said during a press briefing in Geneva.

What Is Marburg Virus Disease?

Marburg virus disease is a rare but highly infectious viral illness that causes severe haemorrhagic fever, damaging blood vessels and impairing the body’s ability to clot blood. It is caused by the Marburg virus, a member of the Filoviridae family, the same group of viruses that includes Ebola.

Because of their close genetic relationship, Marburg and Ebola share many clinical features, including severe bleeding, multi-organ failure and high mortality rates.

According to the WHO, Marburg virus disease has a case fatality rate ranging from 24 per cent to as high as 88 per cent, depending on the outbreak and the availability of timely supportive medical care.

How Does It Spread?

The Marburg virus is naturally carried by Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus), which serve as its primary reservoir.

People usually become infected after prolonged exposure to bat-inhabited caves or mines.

Once a human is infected, the virus spreads through direct contact with the blood, saliva, vomit, urine, faeces and other bodily fluids of an infected person. It can also spread through contaminated objects such as bedding, clothing or medical equipment that have come into contact with infected bodily fluids.

Unlike some respiratory viruses, Marburg is not airborne and does not spread through casual contact. Transmission requires direct exposure to infected bodily fluids or contaminated materials.

What Are Its Symptoms?

The incubation period ranges from two to 21 days, meaning symptoms can appear anywhere within three weeks of infection.

The illness usually begins suddenly with high fever, severe headache, muscle pain and extreme weakness.

Within a few days, patients may develop severe diarrhoea, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. A non-itchy rash may also appear on the chest, back or abdomen.

As the disease progresses, some patients develop severe internal and external bleeding. Blood may be present in vomit or stool, while bleeding from the nose, gums and injection sites can also occur.

In severe cases, death generally occurs between eight and nine days after the onset of symptoms, primarily due to massive blood loss, multi-organ failure and circulatory shock.

Is There A Treatment?

There is currently no approved antiviral treatment specifically for Marburg virus disease. However, early supportive care—including rehydration, oxygen therapy, blood transfusions and treatment of complications—can significantly improve a patient’s chances of survival.

Several vaccines and therapeutic drugs are currently under development and clinical evaluation, but none has yet received widespread regulatory approval.

About the Author

Saurabh VermaSenior Sub-editor

Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Chief Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

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