The Marburg virus takes its name from the German city of the same name where it first appeared in 1967, when it caused three simultaneous outbreaks in Germany (cities of Marburg and Frankfurt) and in former Yugoslavia (Belgrade). In both countries, the Marburg virus was probably introduced with the importation of Ugandan green monkeys ( Cercopithecus aethiops, also known as Gray-green Cercopiteco).
The first cases were recorded among the staff of a laboratory in close contact with these primates. Secondary cases involved medical personnel in hospitals exposed to infected biological material.
Subsequently, sporadic episodes or outbreaks were recorded in South Africa, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola, for a total of about 600 cases and 480 deaths.
