Marburg virus in Rwanda (Update 2)
30 Oct 2024
The Ministry of Health in Rwanda reports continued transmission of Marburg virus disease. From the beginning of the outbreak on 27 September 2024 to 28 October 2024, there have been 65 confirmed cases, including 16 deaths.
The affected districts include Gasabo, Gatsibo, Kamonyi, Kicukiro, Nyagatare, Nyarugenge and Rubavu. Healthcare workers have been particularly affected.
Advice for Travellers
Marburg virus disease is a type of viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF), similar to Ebola. The virus is found in African fruit bats and can be passed to people when they have contact with these bats, or the caves/mines in which they live. People can also be infected from contact with people, or monkeys or apes with Marburg virus disease.
The risk to travellers becoming infected or developing Marburg virus disease is extremely low.
- If you are travelling to a known Marburg outbreak area, you must be aware of the risk of infection and transmission routes of Marburg virus.
- Medical personnel travelling to work in an outbreak region must follow strict infection prevention control guidance.
If you return home from a Marburg outbreak area, you should seek rapid medical attention by contacting NHS 24 (Scotland) or NHS 111 (rest of UK) for advice prior to attending UK medical facilities if you develop a high temperature (fever) and have:
- returned to the UK within 21 days from a region or area with a known outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease
- had contact with people infected with a VHF
If you are travelling to the affected areas to work in response to the outbreak, you should seek risk assessment advice and training from your employer / organisation before travel. You should also be registered with the UKHSA Ebola and Marburg: returning workers scheme (RWS) before travel.
For further information, see the fitfortravel Viral Haemorrhagic Fever page.