When To Test for Marburg Virus Disease
In the early stages, Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) can be difficult to diagnose based on signs and symptoms alone. Diagnostic testing can confirm infection within a few days of symptom onset. However, handling and transporting specimens from suspected MVD patients requires special precautions.
If your facility has a patient suspected to be infected with Marburg virus, immediately implement the identify, isolate, and inform strategy. Contact your public health department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to determine whether the patient should be tested for MVD or other illnesses based on the patient’s symptoms, travel history, and exposure.
The patient should remain under isolation precautions until receiving a negative test result on a sample collected more than 72 hours after symptom onset. Testing for other potential causes of illness may be warranted, and should not be delayed, while Marburg testing is underway.