Marburg in Equatorial Guinea
Key points
- On February 13, 2023, Equatorial Guinea declared an outbreak of Marburg virus disease. Confirmed cases have been reported in multiple provinces (see map). Avoid non-essential travel to the provinces where the outbreak is occurring.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) is working with local health authorities to identify cases and conduct case investigations, strengthen surveillance, identify sources of transmission, and educate communities about the risks and dangers of Marburg.
- If you travel to Equatorial Guinea, you should:
- Avoid contact with sick people who have symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, and rash.
- Avoid contact with blood and other body fluids.
- Avoid contact with dead bodies or items that have been in contact with dead bodies, participating in funeral or burial rituals, or attending a funeral or burial.
- Avoid visiting healthcare facilities in the outbreak area for nonurgent medical care or for nonmedical reasons.
- Avoid visiting traditional healers.
- Avoid contact with fruit bats and the caves and mines where they live.
- Avoid nonhuman primates (e.g., chimpanzees, gorillas).
- If you develop fever, chills, muscle pain, rash, sore throat, diarrhea, weakness, vomiting, stomach pain, or unexplained bleeding or bruising while in the outbreak area or during the 21 days after leaving the outbreak area, you should separate yourself from others (isolate) and seek medical care immediately. Call ahead before going to a healthcare facility and tell your doctor that you’ve been to an area with Marburg virus disease.
Traveler Information
- Health Information for Travelers to Equatorial Guinea
- CDC Marburg website
- Travelers’ Health Ebola and Marburg website
- WHO Marburg Virus Disease
- Travel health and medical evacuation insurance
- Register with the US Department of State
Clinician Information
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers in the CDC Yellow Book: Health Information for International Travel

Marburg virus disease is a rare and deadly disease that has, at times, caused outbreaks in several African countries. It is spread by contact with blood or body fluids of a person infected with Marburg virus. It is also spread by contact with contaminated objects (such as clothing, bedding, needles, and medical equipment) or by contact with animals, such as bats and nonhuman primates, who are infected with Marburg virus.
Marburg virus disease is a viral hemorrhagic fever. Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, rash, sore throat, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, chest pain, and unexplained bleeding or bruising. Infection with Marburg virus is often fatal. There are no approved vaccines or therapeutics for Marburg virus disease.