US Health Agency Warns Travellers To Watch Out For Deadly Marburg Virus Symptoms

The United States (US) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Sunday urged travelers traveling to Guinea and Tanzania to be careful of contracting the fatal Marburg virus, reported NDTV News.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Marburg virus is an infectious disease that has high fatality rates and the potential of turning into an epidemic. The African fruit bat is expected to be the natural host of the highly infectious virus.

The US health agency has urged travelers to avoid coming in contact with sick people, and healthcare facilities in the outbreak areas and to look for symptoms for three weeks after leaving the area.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has also announced a ban on its citizens from traveling to Guinea and Tanzania.

Equatorial Guinea first reported the virus in February. Since then the health authorities have recorded nine confirmed cases and 20 additional probable cases, all of which have died.

 Tanzania also announced five deaths from Marburg but insisted it has the spread under control after sending a rapid response team to the northwestern region of Kagera bordering Uganda.

Late last month, the WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said the trial protocols for four Marburg vaccines are ready. He added that the health organization looks forward to working with the governments of Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania to begin the vaccine trials as soon as possible to help prevent more cases and deaths.

Last week, the US CDC announced that it has sent the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases to respond to the ongoing outbreaks in Guinea and Tanzania.

Neighboring African countries have been put on high alert as they inform their citizens, especially those living in border regions, about the disease and how to notify health authorities.

The Ugandan health ministry has already started compulsory Marburg virus testing in all the bordering areas. The Kenyan government has heightened surveillance and urged its citizens to report if they experience any symptoms.