The United States Cautions Citizens about Visiting Marburg-Affected Rwanda

Since the outbreak was announced late last month, the East African country has reported 12 fatalities, mostly among medical personnel, prompting this caution.

The US State Department has upgraded the travel alert to Level 3, advising Americans to “reconsider travel to Rwanda.” The highest level, Level 4, which forbids travel altogether, is only one level below this one.

The Rwandan health ministry has recorded 41 confirmed cases of the Marburg virus thus far. The Rwanda Development Board responded by announcing improved travel protocols, such as temperature inspections, passenger surveys, and hand-sanitizing stations at airports. It is recommended that travellers keep an eye out for signs like fever on their own.

Fruit bats carry the Marburg virus, a member of the filovirus family that also includes Ebola. Rwanda has launched a vaccination campaign using 700 experimental vaccinations to fight the outbreak.

But as of just now, neither vaccines nor antiviral medications have received formal approval. Potential treatments are being studied, including as immunological therapy and blood products. Travellers are advised to follow government advice and official health outlets for the latest information on the situation in Rwanda.