font size
The United States on Monday warned its citizens to reconsider traveling to Rwanda because of the deadly Marburg virus outbreak.
The East African country announced over the weekend that 12 people, most of them health workers, have died from Ebola since the outbreak was announced late last month.
A highly contagious hemorrhagic fever with a mortality rate of up to 88%, it is often accompanied by bleeding and organ failure.
The U.S. State Department has raised its travel advisory for Rwanda to Level 3, meaning Americans “should reconsider traveling to Rwanda.”
The highest point on the scale is 4, at which citizens are warned not to travel to the country.
According to Rwanda’s Ministry of Health, 41 people have been confirmed to be infected.
The Rwanda Development Board said on Sunday that travel measures were in place.
It said temperature checks, passenger questionnaires and hand sanitizing stations would be introduced at departure points, and urged travelers to self-monitor for symptoms such as fever.
Marburg virus is transmitted from fruit bats to humans and is part of the so-called Filoviridae family, which also includes Ebola virus.
The country has launched a vaccination campaign with 700 experimental vaccines, but there are currently no officially approved vaccines or antiviral treatments.
Potential treatments are being evaluated, including blood products, immunotherapy, and drug therapy.
pound/nro/st
