Eight More Fatal Marburg Cases Confirmed in Equatorial Guinea

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently announced that since the first Disease Outbreak News published on February 25, 2023, eight additional laboratory-confirmed Marburg virus disease (MVD) cases have been reported in the Republic of Equatorial Guinea.

Two of the eight new confirmed cases were reported from the province of Kié-Ntem, four from the Litoral,  and two from Centre- Sur provinces. The areas reporting cases are about 150 kilometers apart, suggesting wider virus transmission.

This brings the total to nine laboratory-confirmed cases and 20 probable cases during the MVD outbreak in Equatorial Guinea.

Seven laboratory-confirmed patients and all probable cases have died from MVD.

Marburg is spread by contact with the blood or body fluids of a person infected with the virus, says the WHO.

As of March 22, 2023, the WHO assesses the risk posed by this MVD outbreak as very high at the national level, moderate at the regional level, and low at the global level.

Other African countries, such as Tanzania, are reporting MVD cases or people under surveillance.

The U.S. CDC updated its Watch - Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions notice to alert international travelers on March 23, 2023.

As of March 24, 2023, there is no MVD-targeted vaccine authorized.