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On 13 February 2023, the Ministry of Health (MoH) of Equatorial Guinea received reports of a cluster of deaths due to an unknown illness in two northeastern districts of the continental region of Equatorial Guinea (Nsok-Nsomo and Ebibeyin). A total of nine people died from 7 January to 6 February with symptoms like a viral haemorrhagic fever infection. On 13 February the MoH declared an outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD), a highly virulent viral haemorrhagic fever. It was the first time the disease had been detected in the country.
Samples were collected and sent for testing in Dakar, Senegal. One tested positive for Marburg virus disease (MVD).
According to government information, initial alerts and deaths were traced back to public events which, according to local religious and cultural customs, brought together dozens of people.
The most affected area was Bata, the most populous city in Equatorial Guinea with approximately 300,000 people.
National response coordination moved to Bata under instructions of the Ministry of Health. This included all subcommissions.
The outbreak lasted for four months and affected five districts in four of Equatorial Guinea's eight provinces. A total of 17 laboratory-confirmed cases (5 healthcare workers) and 12 deaths were recorded. All the 23 probable cases reported died. Four patients recovered from the virus.
On 26 April 2023, the last confirmed case of MVD left the treatment center after testing negative for MVD twice. No new confirmed cases have been reported since then. The outbreak was declared over on 8 June 2023, after no new cases had been reported for 42 days.
At the request of the Ministry of Health, several agencies deployed to the affected area in Equatorial Guinea to support the set-up of the response, including the Equatorial Guinea Red Cross Society (EGRCS) and IFRC, with an initial DREF allocation. This included setting up surveillance systems, case management, infection prevention and control, laboratory capacities, and risk communication and community engagement (RCCE).
The World Health Organization (WHO) praised the Equatorial Guinean government for its swift and effective response to the outbreak. The WHO also noted that the outbreak was a reminder of the importance of preparedness for epidemics and pandemics.