Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the health surveillance measures used by his Department to (a) detect cases of Marburg virus disease and (b) prevent people with the disease from entering the UK.

Testing for Marburg virus disease (MVD) is provided by the UK Health Security Agency’s Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL) at Porton Down, including out of hours testing. Any clinician who suspects a possible case of MVD, usually based on clinical symptoms and travel history, should contact the Imported Fever Service (IFS). IFS is a 24/7 helpline, provided by specialist clinicians, who will arrange testing at RIPL as required and who will also advise on immediate clinical management and infection control. Details of IFS are available online at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/imported-fever-service-ifs

The risk of people with MVD entering the United Kingdom has been assessed as being very low based on the available epidemiology and geography of cases overseas. A specialist team undertake daily epidemiological global horizon scanning to identify any new and emerging threats, as well as any changes to existing overseas situations. Any change to information about current MVD outbreaks, or new incidents, will trigger a review of these risk assessments and consideration of additional potential public health interventions required.