Wednesday 24 / April / 2024
Muscat: Oman's Ministry of Health has issued a warning against travelling to the African countries of the Federal Republic of Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea. The warning was issued in the wake of an outbreak of contagious Marburg virus disease (MVD). The death rate from the disease is speculated to be 60 to 80%.
The Ministry of Health, represented by the Directorate General of Disease Control and Surveillance and the Emergency Management Center, is monitoring the outbreak of Marburg hemorrhagic fever in the United Republic of Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea.
In this regard, the Ministry would like to warn that there are efforts being made to contain the outbreak within its current geographical scope. However, until the course of this outbreak and till the results of the current procedures gain clarity, the Ministry advises the public to postpone travel to countries affected by Marburg virus disease, except in the case of extreme necessity.
In the event of an urgent need to travel to affected countries, travelers must take the following precautions to avoid exposure to the disease:
1. Avoid direct contact with patients who have symptoms such as fever, muscle aches and rashes. Also, avoid visiting endemic areas with Marburg virus disease.
2. Generally avoid contact with blood and other body fluids of other people.
3. Avoid contact with fruit bats, as well as avoid visiting caves and mines where they live.
4. Avoid contact with animals (such as chimpanzees and gorillas).
5. (Arriving) travellers must isolate themselves from others and go to the nearest medical care facility (hospital emergency departments) if they develop fever, chills, muscle aches, rash, sore throat, diarrhea, weakness, vomiting, stomach pain, unexplained bleeding from anywhere, or bruising in the body during or after travel (up to 21 days), and to disclose to medical personnel that they have traveled to an area with Marburg virus disease or have been in contact with people infected with the disease or its symptoms .
The Ministry of Health follows up on the developments of the epidemiological situation and communicates with other authorities concerned with public health emergencies.
The ministry updates procedures according to follow-up data and has called upon the citizens and residents to take information only from the official sources of the Ministry.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has also urged people to postpone travel to countries affected by the Marburg virus disease (MVD), unless necessary.
CAA said in its circular No.1/2023.MVD that due to the confirmed outbreaks of Marburg virus disease (MVD) in the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, and coordination with the Medical Response and Public Health Sector and other competent authorities, the Civil Aviation Authority hereby informs all passengers and aircraft operators in the Sultanate of Oman to adhere to precautions in order to avoid exposure to the disease.
