The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 3 travel advisory for Rwanda due to a Marburg virus outbreak. Marburg virus disease, known for causing severe viral hemorrhagic fever, is often fatal and was first identified in 1967 during outbreaks in Germany and Serbia.
On September 27, Rwanda’s Ministry of Health reported cases of the virus across seven districts. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services indicated that the United States is collaborating with Rwanda’s government, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Africa CDC, and other international partners to address the outbreak.
To alert travelers about potential health risks, the CDC provides Travel Health Notices, which categorize locations from Level 1 to Level 4 based on the travel safety status. Currently, Rwanda is at a Level 3, advising people to “reconsider nonessential travel” as the outbreak poses risks to travelers with limited precautions available.
While the CDC assesses the risk of Marburg virus disease in the U.S. as low, it emphasizes the importance for healthcare providers to remain vigilant for possible imported cases. Starting the week of October 14, the CDC plans to implement public health entry screening at three U.S. airports for travelers who have been in Rwanda within the past 21 days.
Travelers arriving from Rwanda will be rerouted to Chicago, New York, and Washington, D.C., where they will undergo health screenings. This precaution aims to mitigate the virus’s potential spread within the United States.
As for the current situation in Rwanda, there have been 56 reported cases and 12 deaths attributed to the Marburg virus. There are no approved vaccines or treatments available for this disease. The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response has invested approximately $365 million to develop a vaccine and antibody treatment. Clinical trials for vaccination and treatment have commenced in Rwanda, overseen by local regulatory authorities.
The Marburg virus has an average fatality rate of around 50%, with variations ranging from 25% to 90% depending on the virus strain and public health responses. Initial symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, rash, chest pain, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, while more severe symptoms can lead to liver failure, delirium, shock, and multi-organ dysfunction.
Preventative measures against the Marburg virus include avoiding contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals, avoiding semen from recovered patients until confirmed virus-free, and steering clear of items contaminated with infected fluids. Travelers should also avoid contact with Egyptian Rousette bats and non-human primates in areas where the virus is prevalent.