CDC issues alert about two Marburg virus outbreaks in Africa

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an alert Thursday over two growing outbreaks of Marburg virus, an Ebola-like illness, in African countries.

Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania declared outbreaks of the viral hemorrhagic fever in February and March earlier this year.

“Currently, the risk of MVD [Marburg virus disease] in the United States is low; however, clinicians should be aware of the potential for imported cases. It is important to systematically assess patients for the possibility of viral hemorrhagic fevers,” the CDC’s advisory reads.

The CDC added that the two outbreaks were not related to each other and no cases of Marburg had been reported in the U.S. or any other country outside of Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania. Though outbreaks have occurred in neighboring countries in the past and the Egyptian fruit bat, a common animal host of the virus, is found in both.

Symptoms can include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal symptoms, organ failure or unexplained bleeding. Infected people are not contagious until symptoms appear. Marburg is not airborne and spreads through contact with bodily fluids of an infected person.

There is no vaccine for the virus, but doses of a drug in the trial stages may be tried in the outbreak, the World Health Organization said.

“In the absence of early diagnosis and appropriate supportive care, MVD has a high mortality rate of 23%–90%. With early intensive supportive care and fluid replacement, mortality rates may be lower,” the CDC advisory adds.

There have been 22 confirmed cases across Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania, resulting in 15 deaths.

The CDC said it has begun telling travelers who spent time in Equatorial Guinea or Tanzania to seek medical treatment if Marburg symptoms develop after returning to the U.S.

“Currently, no enhanced domestic travel measures are recommended,” the CDC said.