Marburg virus disease

Causes

What causes Marburg virus disease? How is it spread?

Recent evidence suggests that the likely source of initial human cases is through contact with infected animals. Once a person is infected, the virus can spread through person-to-person contact.

Marburg virus can be spread through:

• contact with infected animals (bats, monkeys, gorillas, pigs, etc.)
• contact with blood, body fluids (such as urine, saliva, semen, breast milk, sweat) or tissues of infected persons
• contact with objects (such as clothing, bedding medical equipment) that are contaminated with infected body fluids

Exposure can also occur in health care settings when staff members do not wear appropriate protective equipment, such as masks, gowns, goggles and gloves.