The U.S. government has adjusted its travel warnings for Rwanda in light of numerous confirmed infections with the highly dangerous Marburg virus. The U.S. State Department has elevated the travel advisory for Rwanda to level three out of four, advising U.S. citizens against traveling to the East African country. This decision comes after Rwanda’s Ministry of Health reported 41 confirmed Marburg virus infections since late September, resulting in twelve deaths, mostly among healthcare workers. The outbreak has prompted Rwandan authorities to implement stricter measures at airports, including temperature checks for travelers and the requirement to fill out questionnaires.
Rwanda Implements Preventive Measures as Marburg Virus Spreads
In response to the outbreak, Rwanda’s development agency has established control measures at airports. These include temperature checks for travelers, mandatory questionnaires, and the installation of hand disinfection stations at departure points. Travelers are also urged to self-monitor for symptoms such as fever. The Marburg virus, which belongs to the same family of pathogens as the Ebola virus, spreads among humans through close contact or direct contact with bodily fluids. Symptoms of Marburg disease include high fever and severe headaches, followed by diarrhea, vomiting, and bleeding. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the mortality rate can be as high as 88 percent.
Source: AFP News
