The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned about the rare Ebola-like Marburg virus, advising US public health officials and doctors to be on alert.

There are two confirmed outbreaks of Marburg virus disease in Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea.

Health authorities believe that the pathogen probably spread from wild animals to humans, writes the Telegraph.

There have been no reported diagnoses of Marburg in the U.S., but authorities are seeking to "raise awareness of the risk of imported cases in the United States."

The disease is usually spread by contact with infected blood or other body fluids, not by airborne droplets.

The disease has epidemic potential, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

It has high mortality rates - of the eight cases in Tanzania reported so far, five of the patients have died.

Equatorial Guinea officials reported their first outbreak on February 13, with 14 confirmed cases and 10 deaths.

March.

Symptoms include headache, fatigue, sudden fever, unexplained bleeding, and gastrointestinal symptoms.

Muscle and joint pain and loss of appetite are also common.

Marburg fever has swept into Equatorial Guinea

The incubation period is usually two to 21 days.

Mortality from the disease varies between 23% and 90%.