The GIS is urging travelers to avoid contact with wild animals and raw meat while in the affected regions. "In case of illness during your stay, seek medical help immediately," the agency advised, while also recommending compliance with local health directives.
Rwanda has reported several cases of Marburg virus, a hemorrhagic fever with a fatality rate as high as 88%, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The outbreak has been detected in multiple districts, including the capital, Kigali, and regions bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Tanzania.
In its advisory, GIS urged travelers to avoid contact with individuals displaying symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or bleeding, as well as to stay clear of materials and surfaces contaminated with bodily fluids from infected individuals. It also advised against approaching the bodies of those who died from the virus and discouraged attending funeral ceremonies. Travelers are also being warned not to visit healthcare facilities in the affected areas unless absolutely necessary, and to avoid habitats where bats may reside.
Additionally, travelers should avoid close contact with both live and dead wild animals, as well as refrain from handling, consuming, or using any raw meat.
The Marburg virus
The Marburg virus, carried by African wildlife such as bats, monkeys, and rodents, is not transmitted through the air but spreads via direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person, or through surfaces and objects contaminated with those fluids, such as clothing or bedding. The virus causes severe symptoms similar to Ebola, including vomiting, fever, muscle pain, and diarrhea, often leading to death from massive blood loss.
GIS emphasized the importance of isolating individuals returning from outbreak zones who exhibit symptoms until Marburg infection can be ruled out. The agency noted that there is no specific treatment or vaccine for the virus, although the risk of it spreading to Europe remains low at this time.
The Marburg virus caused an epidemic in Tanzania in 2023, and the disease has now reemerged in neighboring Rwanda, prompting heightened health precautions.