The Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) are the primary reservoir for Marburg Virus. The bats being reservoirs means they can carry the virus without showing signs of illness. Studies show bats can stay asymptomatic and continue to shed the virus which allows the virus to persist in nature. Marburg is classified as zoonotic meaning it can spread from animals to humans, most commonly when humans come into contact with infected bats or body fluids. Once a human is infected, the virus can spread to other humans through direct contact with infected body fluids (CDC, 2024; Pawęska et al., 2020; Ogawa et al., 2019).
Marburg Virus is most commonly found in caves, mines and environment where fruit bats rest, sleep and breed. Spillover to humans can occur through exposure to infected bats. This can occur through contact with bat droppings, contaminated fruit, and hunting or handling of bats. Mining and cave exploration can directly lead to spillover from bats to humans. Once viruses have infected humans, it can spread between them through contact with contaminated bodily fluids (CDC, 2023; WHO, 2024; Pigott et al., 2015).
Marburg will spread between humans after spillover by many different means. It is primarily contact-based and droplet-based. It can spread through direct contact with blood or bodily fluids, contaminated objects, and handling of a deceased individual. Humans can contract the disease via contaminated fabrics, bedding and medical equipment meaning in healthcare settings where there are machines used between patients, the virus has a great opportunity to spread. In limited healthcare settings the risk of an epidemic rises. The virus is not considered airborne but as explained it can be spread through fomites. In cultural practices that involve close contact with the ill or deceased, this virus can spread quickly (CDC, 2023; WHO, 2024; Cross et al., 2020).