The Marburg virus epidemic in Rwanda has prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue a Level 3 travel caution.
A dangerous and frequently lethal illness is Marburg virus disease, or MVD. According to the World Health Organization, the virus causes a severe form of viral hemorrhage fever.
It was discovered for the first time in 1967 after twin epidemics in Belgrade, Serbia, and Marburg and Frankfurt, Germany.
On September 27, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said in a press release that the Republic of Rwanda’s Ministry of Health reported cases of the virus in seven districts throughout the country.
“The United States is taking a whole-government approach, working in partnership with the government of Rwanda, WHO, Africa CDC, and other international partners to support the response to the MVD outbreak,” the government agency said.
To inform travelers about the potential risks, including health-related outbreaks, the CDC publishes Travel Health Notices on its website. Ranging from a Level 1 to a Level 4, these notices are used to inform people about the status of the country they choose to travel to.
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Rwanda is currently at a Level 3 which is defined by the CDC as an area to “reconsider nonessential travel”. “The outbreak or event poses (a) risk to travelers because limited precautions are available,” the notice said.
