Rwanda on September 27 confirmed cases of the Marburg virus outbreak on its territory, saying they were detected in "a few patients in health facilities in the country.”

A statement by the Ministry of Health said investigations were being carried out to determine the origin of the infection, and that preventive measures were being implemented.

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According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), most outbreaks of Marburg disease have occurred in Sub-Saharan Africa, though the virus has also spread to other parts of the world through infected travellers or accidental laboratory infections.

Here, we look at some of the past outbreaks.

1. Tanzania 2023

An outbreak of Marburg disease occurred in Tanzania from March to May 2023. This was the country's first Marburg disease outbreak and resulted in five deaths.

The Tanzanian government declared the outbreak over on May 31, with one probable and eight confirmed cases, of which five died. All cases were reported from the country's northwest Kagera region.

2. Equatorial Guinea 2023

An outbreak of Marburg disease occurred in Equatorial Guinea from February to June 2023. This was the country's first Marburg disease outbreak, which resulted in dozens of deaths.

Cases were reported in several provinces, including Kie-Ntem, Littoral, and Centro Sur. The government declared the outbreak over on May 15, with 16 confirmed illnesses and 12 deaths.

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One additional lab-confirmed sample was never linked to a specific patient since the sample was unlabelled. An additional 23 probable cases, all of whom died, were also reported during the outbreak.

3. Ghana, Ashanti Region, 2022

A fatal suspect case of Marburg disease was identified in the Ashanti region of Ghana on July 7, 2022. Marburg disease was initially detected through testing at Ghana’s national laboratory and confirmed at the Institut Pasteur in Dakar, Senegal, marking the first detection of Marburg disease in Ghana.

Shortly after, two additional family members were also confirmed to have Marburg disease. No additional cases outside the family cluster were identified. The outbreak was declared over in September. There were three cases and two deaths (67 percent fatality rate).

4. Guinea, Guéckédou 2021

One case was reported and confirmed by the Guinean Ministry of Health in a patient who was diagnosed after death in 2021.

No additional cases were confirmed after more than 170 high-risk contacts were monitored for 21 days.

5. Uganda, Kween 2017

A blood sample from Kween District in eastern Uganda tested positive for Marburg virus. Within 24 hours of confirmation, a rapid outbreak response was begun.

This outbreak occurred as a family cluster with no additional transmission outside of the four related cases. There were four cases and three deaths.

6. Uganda, Kampala 2014

In 2014, one Marburg case was confirmed (fatal) in Uganda’s capital, and 197 contacts were followed for 21 days. Out of these 197 contacts, eight developed symptoms like Marburg, but all tested negative at the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI).

7. Uganda, Kabale 2012

In 2021, tests identified a Marburg virus disease outbreak in the districts of Kabale, Ibanda, Mbarara, and Kampala over a three-week period. There were 15 cases and four deaths.

8. Netherlands ex Uganda, Maramagambo forest 2008

In 2008, a 40-year-old Dutch woman with a recent history of travel to Uganda was admitted to hospital in the Netherlands. She had visited a cave in Maramagambo forest in Uganda, at the southern edge of Queen Elizabeth National Park).

Three days before hospitalisation, the first symptoms (fever, chills) occurred, followed by a rapid deterioration in her health. The woman died on the tenth day of the illness.

9. USA ex Uganda, Maramagambo forest 2008

A U.S traveller returned from Uganda in January 2008.

The patient developed illness four days after returning, was hospitalised, discharged, and fully recovered. The patient was later diagnosed with Marburg virus infection.

10. Uganda, Kamwenge District 2007

This was a small outbreak, with four cases in young males working in a lead and gold mine. There was one death.