On 1 Jul 2026, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed one laboratory-confirmed case of Marburg virus disease in Kyegegwa District, Western Region.
The patient, a 1.5-year-old child, died. While Uganda notified the World Health Organization of one case on 30 Jun, other reports suggested a second confirmed case, although this has not been officially confirmed. Investigations are ongoing to identify the source of infection and trace contacts, particularly given the district's large refugee population and potential for increased population movement.
This outbreak coincides with the ongoing Ebola virus disease outbreak (see EpiNews above). The last Marburg virus disease outbreak was reported in 2017 in Uganda.
Information on Marburg virus disease, see Factsheet.
Be aware, there is also currently an outbreak of Ebola virus disease in Uganda, see EpiNews above.
Preventive measures:
- Wash your hands regularly and carefully using soap and water (or alcohol gel if soap is unavailable).
- Avoid contact with sick people who have symptoms, such as fever, muscle pain, and rash.
- Avoid contact with blood and other body fluids.
- Avoid visiting healthcare facilities in the MVD-affected areas for nonurgent medical care or non-medical reasons.
- Avoid contact with dead bodies or items that have been in contact with dead bodies, participating in funeral or burial rituals, or attending a funeral or burial.
- Avoid handling, cooking, or eating bush/wild meat (meat of wild/feral mammals killed for food).
- Wash and peel fruit and vegetables before consumption.
- Avoid visiting mines or bat caves and contact with all wild animals, alive or dead, particularly bats.
- If you decide to visit mines or caves inhabited by fruit bat colonies, wear gloves and other appropriate protective clothing, including masks and eye protection.
- Practice safer sex.
During travel and upon return:
Watch for symptoms of Marburg while in the outbreak area and for 21 days after leaving the outbreak area (no quarantine is required if there are no symptoms).
In case of symptoms:
If you develop fever and nonspecific symptoms such as chills, headache, muscle pain or abdominal pain:
- Separate yourself from others (isolate) immediately.
- Do not travel.
- By phone: contact local health authorities or a healthcare facility for a thorough evaluation of your risk (e.g. tropical institute, travel clinic or university hospital infectious disease unit).
- Always state that you were in the affected areas and you may have had a possible exposure to Ebola/Marburg Virus (incubation period: 2-21 days).
- While under investigation as a suspected case, please also raise the issue of a malaria test and other investigations.
For clinicians:
- See recommendation for Ebola virus disease on HealthyTravel: LINK