Information for Local Health Departments
Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) is a rare but highly fatal viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) caused by infection with one of two zoönotic viruses, Marburg virus or Ravn virus. Both Marburg virus and Ravn virus are within the virus family Filoviridae, which also includes Ebola viruses.
Marburg virus is spread through direct contact with broken skin or mucous membranes with the body fluids of someone who is sick with MVD, or who recently died from their infection. These body fluids include blood, urine, saliva, sweat, feces, vomit, breast milk, amniotic fluid, or semen. People can also contract MVD if they have contact with infected animals, or with needles or other objects or surfaces contaminated with the virus. Marburg virus is not spread through airborne transmission.
There are no FDA-approved vaccines or treatments for MVD, and mortality rates are high (23–90%) without early diagnosis and supportive care.
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