Ebola and Marburg are related but distinct viral diseases. They can cause similar symptoms, spread through contact with infected body fluids or contaminated materials, and cannot be reliably told apart by symptoms alone. If you may have been exposed or develop symptoms in an area affected by either disease, contact a health provider or local health authority promptly and follow their instructions.
Are Marburg and Ebola the same disease?
No. Both are caused by viruses in the filovirus family, but Ebola disease is caused by orthoebolaviruses, while Marburg virus disease is caused by Marburg virus or Ravn virus. Their symptoms and transmission routes overlap, but one disease does not become the other. The World Health Organization (WHO) explains that only laboratory testing can confirm Marburg; symptoms alone cannot distinguish it reliably from Ebola or other infections.
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For background, see WHO’s Ebola disease fact sheet, its Marburg virus disease fact sheet, and its Marburg questions and answers.
How do Ebola and Marburg symptoms compare?
Both illnesses can begin suddenly with fever, headache, marked tiredness or malaise, and muscle aches. Gastrointestinal symptoms may develop as the illness progresses. These signs are not a diagnostic checklist: malaria and other infections can cause similar symptoms, and laboratory testing is needed to identify Ebola or Marburg.
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| Feature | Ebola disease | Marburg virus disease |
|---|---|---|
| Incubation period | 2–21 days, according to WHO | 2–21 days, according to WHO |
| Possible early symptoms | Sudden fever, fatigue or malaise, muscle pain, headache, sore throat | Abrupt high fever, chills, severe headache, severe tiredness; muscle aches are common |
| Possible later symptoms | Vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, rash, impaired kidney or liver function; confusion may occur | Vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain; confusion may occur |
| Bleeding | Can occur later, but is less frequent than commonly perceived | Can occur in severe disease |
| How it is confirmed | Laboratory testing | Laboratory testing |
The incubation range is not a prediction that an individual will become ill on a particular day. WHO’s cited fact sheets state that people do not transmit either disease before symptoms begin and remain infectious while virus is present in the blood. The course and severity of illness can vary; bleeding is neither a required early sign nor something that must occur.
How do the viruses spread?
For both diseases, transmission is primarily exposure-based. Infection can begin after animal exposure, and human-to-human spread can occur when infected blood or other body fluids reach broken skin or mucous membranes. Objects and surfaces contaminated by those fluids can also pose a risk. Unsafe handling of the body of someone who died from the disease can expose others, as can caregiving or health care without appropriate infection-prevention precautions.
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Fruit bats are natural hosts associated with both disease groups; WHO’s Marburg fact sheet identifies the Egyptian fruit bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus, as a Marburg host. WHO’s Marburg Q&A states, “The disease does not spread through the air.” That clarification does not reduce the serious risks from direct contact with body fluids, contaminated materials, or close care without precautions.
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How can people reduce exposure?
Personal precautions can lower exposure risk, but they do not replace outbreak instructions or professional care. Follow local health authorities’ current advice, especially during an outbreak.
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- Avoid contact with people who may be ill and with their body fluids.
- Do not touch the body of someone who died with suspected Ebola or Marburg; safe and dignified burials should be handled through trained response systems.
- Wash hands with soap or use alcohol-based hand rub. Hand hygiene is one layer of prevention, not a guarantee against infection.
- During outbreaks, avoid potentially infected wildlife and follow local food-safety advisories.
- If symptoms or a possible exposure raise concern, contact a health provider or local health authority promptly and follow their directions.
Outbreak response requires coordinated measures, including early detection and isolation, clinical care, laboratory services, surveillance and contact tracing, infection prevention and control in health facilities, safe burials, and community engagement. Vaccination is included when relevant to the Ebola virus involved. Clinical isolation, contact tracing, protective equipment, and burial protocols belong to trained response teams; health workers should follow current facility protocols. WHO’s 2025 infection prevention and control guideline for Ebola and Marburg disease replaces earlier IPC guidance from 2014 and 2016.
What should you do if you develop symptoms or may have been exposed?
Do not try to diagnose Ebola or Marburg from symptoms, and do not attempt to manage suspected illness at home. Contact a local health provider or health authority for current instructions; in an affected area, follow the local process for assessment and referral. WHO says people who test positive for Marburg need early care at a designated treatment centre.
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Supportive care, including rehydration and treatment of symptoms, improves survival in both diseases. Early professional assessment matters because the illnesses can resemble one another and other infections, and suspected cases need appropriate testing and care.
Do vaccines or specific treatments differ?
Availability depends on which virus causes the illness. The information below reflects WHO fact sheets dated 24 April 2025 for Ebola and 20 January 2025 for Marburg; approval and availability can change.
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| Question | Ebola disease | Marburg virus disease |
|---|---|---|
| Vaccines | WHO says Ervebo and Zabdeno/Mvabea are approved for Ebola virus disease caused by Ebola virus. Approved vaccines and treatments are available for only one of the Ebola viruses; they do not cover all Ebola diseases. | WHO reported no approved vaccine as of 20 January 2025; candidates were in development. |
| Antiviral treatment | WHO’s 24 April 2025 fact sheet says approved vaccines and treatments are available only for Ebola virus disease caused by Ebola virus. | WHO reported no approved antiviral treatment as of 20 January 2025; candidates were in development. |
| Care that supports patients | Supportive care, including rehydration and symptom treatment | Supportive care, including rehydration and symptom treatment |
Ebola vaccines do not mean protection against Marburg. Whether a vaccine or treatment is appropriate depends on the virus involved and public-health guidance.
What do fatality-rate figures mean?
WHO’s 2025 fact sheets each give an average case-fatality rate of around 50% for past outbreaks. WHO reports that rates varied from 25–90% in past Ebola outbreaks and 24–88% in past Marburg outbreaks. These are summaries of historical outbreaks, not estimates of an individual’s personal risk or predictions for a particular outbreak. Outcomes depend on the outbreak context and access to care.
For current outbreak information, consult WHO’s Marburg outbreak toolbox and follow local health-authority instructions. A toolbox or fact sheet may not reflect the latest local situation.
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