U.S. Embassy issues Marburg alert amid reports of possible case in Uganda
Public health experts say prevention measures for Marburg are similar to those used against Ebola, including avoiding contact with infected individuals, practising proper hand hygiene, and adhering to infection prevention and control guidelines
KAMPALA, June 30, 2026 — The United States Embassy in Uganda has issued a public health alert following reports of a possible case of Marburg Virus Disease [MVD] in western Uganda.
In the advisory issued on Monday, the embassy said there were reports of a suspected infection and urged members of the public to remain vigilant and follow official guidance from Uganda’s Ministry of Health.
“The U.S. Embassy is aware there are reports of a potential case of Marburg Virus Disease, a viral haemorrhagic fever, in western Uganda. The measures to protect yourself are the same as for any viral haemorrhagic fever, such as Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Disease,” the alert stated.
Marburg Virus Disease is a rare but severe viral haemorrhagic fever that affects both humans and non-human primates, including apes and monkeys. It is caused by infection with either the Marburg virus or Ravn virus, both belonging to the orthomarburgvirus family, and can lead to severe illness or death.
Health authorities note that symptoms often appear suddenly and may include high fever, weakness, rash, vomiting, diarrhoea and, in severe cases, internal and external bleeding.
The disease spreads through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person, handling or washing the body of someone who has died from the disease, or contact with contaminated materials and surfaces.
Public health experts say prevention measures for Marburg are similar to those used against Ebola, including avoiding contact with infected individuals, practising proper hand hygiene, and adhering to infection prevention and control guidelines.
Orthomarburgviruses occur naturally in Egyptian rousette bats [Rousettus aegyptiacus], with transmission to humans believed to occur through exposure to infected bats or environments inhabited by them. Marburg outbreaks have largely been recorded in sub-Saharan Africa.
The disease derives its name from Marburg, a city in Germany, where the first recognised outbreak occurred in 1967 among laboratory workers handling imported African monkeys.
Uganda has experienced several Marburg outbreaks and isolated cases over the years, underscoring continued vigilance against viral haemorrhagic fevers.
Recorded incidents include the first documented case in Bugiri district in 1977; outbreaks in Kamwenge and Ibanda districts in 2007 involving miners; cases involving international tourists linked to cave visits in western Uganda in 2008; a multi-district outbreak in 2012 centred on Ibanda and Kabale; a healthcare worker’s death in Mpigi district in 2014; and the most recent confirmed outbreak in Kween district in 2017.
Uganda has also faced periodic Ebola outbreaks, including strains such as Sudan and Bundibugyo, prompting the country to strengthen disease surveillance, emergency response systems and community awareness programmes aimed at containing viral haemorrhagic diseases before they spread.
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