Marburg in Tanzania

Warning - Level 3, Avoid Nonessential Travel
Alert - Level 2, Practice Enhanced Precautions
Watch - Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions

Key points

  • On March 21, 2023, Tanzania declared an outbreak of Marburg virus disease. Confirmed cases have been reported in the Kagera Region.
  • Local health authorities are working 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 Tanzania, 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).
  • Watch your health for symptoms of Marburg while in the outbreak area and for 21 days after leaving the outbreak area.

Traveler Information

Clinician Information

Map showing Marburg outbreak area in Tanzania (Kagera)
Map: Areas of Tanzania with outbreak of Marburg (see larger map)
What is Marburg?

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 or who has died from Marburg. 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 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 treatments for Marburg.