The US Department of Health and Human Services has announced that travelers entering the United States who have visited Rwanda within the past 21 days will undergo screening for Marburg virus, starting the week of October 14.
While there are currently no confirmed cases of Marburg virus disease outside Rwanda, officials emphasize that the risk of transmission to the US remains low.
However, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will begin public health entry screenings as a precautionary measure to minimize the chance of the virus being imported.
Marburg virus disease, a rare but lethal hemorrhagic illness closely related to Ebola, has affected 26 individuals in Rwanda, resulting in eight fatalities.
The CDC is also issuing a Level 3 Travel Health Notice, advising against nonessential travel to Rwanda.
Additionally, automated messages will be sent to travelers arriving from Rwanda, providing crucial information and guidance.
Rwanda’s Ministry of Health reports that, as of Monday, the outbreak has escalated, with 56 confirmed cases of the virus.
Thirty-six individuals are currently in isolation and undergoing treatment, while the death toll has risen to 12. A significant number of those infected are healthcare workers, underscoring the virus’s impact on front-line responders.
The Marburg virus, part of the orthomarburgvirus family, originates in fruit bats and can spread to humans through contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids or by handling contaminated clothing or bedding.
Unlike airborne diseases such as COVID-19, Marburg spreads through direct contact, making containment somewhat more manageable, according to experts. Still, the disease is highly dangerous, with a fatality rate of up to 90% in severe cases.
Symptoms of the virus may take up to three weeks to appear following exposure. Initial signs include rash, fever, and severe headaches, with patients often experiencing vomiting and muscle aches.
In more extreme cases, the virus can lead to hemorrhaging from the nose, gums, and eyes, with internal bleeding manifesting in vomit, urine, and stool. This severe blood loss can cause shock and, in many cases, death.
Although there are no vaccines or approved treatments for Marburg, supportive care—including rest and fluids—remains the primary form of treatment.
In response to the outbreak, both the CDC and the World Health Organization have deployed teams of specialists to assist Rwanda’s public health workers on the ground.
Spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, Sean Savett, confirmed the United States’ close cooperation with Rwanda in combating the outbreak.
In a statement on Monday, Savett noted, “Since learning of this outbreak, the United States has committed to making nearly $11 million available to address urgent health needs in Rwanda and surrounding countries, including support for surveillance and contact tracing, infection prevention and control guidance, and exit screening at Rwanda’s airport and neighboring border crossings.”
While there are no FDA-approved vaccines or medications specifically for Marburg virus, the US has provided Rwanda with hundreds of investigational vaccine doses and a limited supply of investigational therapeutics, which arrived over the weekend.
The CDC also issued an advisory last week, urging healthcare providers in the US to monitor for Marburg symptoms in patients with a travel history that includes high-risk areas.
Patients who display symptoms and are deemed at risk should be isolated until testing confirms they do not have the virus.
Travelers to Rwanda are advised to avoid visiting healthcare facilities unless seeking urgent medical attention.
