The Marburg virus is a highly virulent disease that causes hemorrhagic fever, with a fatality ratio of up to 88%. It is in the same family as the virus that causes Ebola virus disease. Marburg virus disease (MVD) is caused by an infection with Marburg virus or Ravn virus, both within the genus Marburgvirus. Marburgviruses are zoonotic RNA viruses within the virus family Filoviridae. The Egyptian rousette bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus, is a cave-dwelling bat that is found widely across Africa and the animal reservoir for marburgviruses. Human infection with Marburg virus disease initially results from prolonged exposure to mines or caves inhabited by Rousettus bat colonies. Once an individual is infected with the virus, Marburg can spread through human-to-human transmission via direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials (e.g. bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids.

Illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly, with high fever, severe headache, and severe malaise. Muscle aches and pains are a common feature. Severe watery diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping, nausea, and vomiting can begin on the third day. Diarrhea can persist for a week. The appearance of patients at this phase has been described as showing “ghost-like” drawn features, deep-set eyes, expressionless faces, and extreme lethargy. There is no proven treatment available for Marburg virus disease, but supportive care – rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids – and treatment of specific symptoms improves survival. A range of potential treatments including blood products, immune therapies, and drug therapies are currently being evaluated.