Full Marburg virus travel advice as WHO issues warning

A deadly Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda has now killed 11 people as efforts to stop the spread of the virus intensify.

According to the government's Ministry of Health, the virus was first confirmed in the African country in September. 36 cases have been reported so far. Most of the people who died were health care workers in Rwanda's capital, Kigali.

Another 410 people are believed to have had contact with infected people, Rwanda's deputy health minister Yvan Butera said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has now advised against traveling to Rwanda due to the outbreak.

According to the WHO, the mortality rate for Marburg cases can be as high as 88%, with previous outbreaks varying between 24% and 88% depending on the virus strain and case management. There is currently no proven treatment, but treatments such as blood products, immunotherapy, and drug therapies are being researched.

It is a form of viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF), similar to Ebola, and can be transmitted through contact with infected people.

What are the travel advisories for the Marburg virus?

The WHO has advised against travel to Rwanda due to the outbreak. They also discouraged trade restrictions.

However, this is only a recommendation and there is currently no total travel ban for Rwanda.

The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has raised its travel advisory to level two and recommends taking increased precautions when traveling to Rwanda. She advises anyone traveling there to take out travel insurance and avoid contact with sick people with Marburg symptoms. They also recommend avoiding health facilities in outbreak areas unless seeking urgent medical care.

When leaving Marburg-affected areas, the CDC recommends keeping an eye out for possible symptoms for 21 days – fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, rash, chest pain, sore throat, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, or unexplained bleeding or bruising after leaving.

Anyone experiencing symptoms during this time should immediately isolate and seek medical attention.

The British Foreign Office has not yet advised against traveling to Rwanda. However, the company mentions the outbreak on its website and says to check with local authorities before traveling. At the same time, it calls on organizations doing business in Marburg-affected areas to register with the UKHSA Worker Return Scheme.

The aim of this program is to protect and monitor the health of those who have traveled to areas affected by a Marburg or Ebola outbreak by taking precautionary measures, such as advance notice of return to the UK.

Yahoo News UK has contacted the Foreign Office for an update.