Gulf countries have warned their citizens against traveling to Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea due to outbreaks of the Marburg virus, which is a family of the virus that causes Ebola haemorrhagic fever.

The Kuwaiti Ministry of Health said in a statement published on its official Twitter account that its recommendations to avoid travel to the two countries in Africa are valid until the announcement of the control of the disease.

Statement on behalf of #وزارة_الصحة. pic.twitter.com/fK8vRwAaKG

— Ministry of Health – Kuwait (@KUWAIT_MOH) April 1, 2023

The Ministry recommended that its citizens in the two countries and their neighboring countries should follow the preventive measures announced by the local health authorities in those countries, and take the necessary preventive measures to reduce the risk of transmission.

The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry also recommended on Saturday "avoiding travel to Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania, for the time being, after the announcement of the detection of outbreaks of Marburg virus haemorrhagic fever, and until the announcement of control of the disease."

Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the announcement by the health authorities of the United Republic of Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea of the detection of outbreaks of Marburg virus disease. pic.twitter.com/mZKmLIETVb

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs (@MOFAKuwait) April 1, 2023

The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry called on its citizens to "follow the preventive measures issued by the local health authorities, and to take the necessary measures announced by the authorities there to reduce the risk of transmission."

In the UAE, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday that it was "advising its citizens to postpone travel for the time being to Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea, after announcing the detection of outbreaks of the Marburg virus."

In view of the announcement by the health authorities of the Federal Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Equatorial Guinea of the detection of outbreaks of the Marburg virus disease and out of the Ministry's concern for the safety of the citizens of the country, the Ministry advises postponing travel for the time being to the Federal Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Equatorial Guinea.
The Ministry calls upon the...

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (@MoFAICUAE) April 1, 2023

In its statement, the UAE warned its citizens to take precautions, follow the safety instructions issued by the competent authorities, and communicate with the relevant authorities.

Last Thursday, the Omani Ministry of Health issued a statement, calling on its citizens not to travel to Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea, and said that the ministry is closely monitoring the disease in these countries as it is highly contagious.

🔶️ Statement by the Ministry of Health regarding the outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) in the Federal Republic of Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea.

♦️ For details, please click on the link below:https://t.co/rAWjq0CN4Q pic.twitter.com/QKGskci7bH

— Ministry of Health – Amman (@OmaniMOH) March 30, 2023

In coordination with the Medical Response Sector and the competent authorities, the #الطيران_المدني Authority publishes a circular to alert passengers and airlines about the outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD). pic.twitter.com/nLMpJfQTF7

— Civil Aviation Authority (@CAAOMN) March 30, 2023

In a related context, the Saudi Public Health Authority (Weqaya) advised last Friday its citizens to avoid traveling to Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea due to the spread of the Marburg virus in them.

#وقاية recommends avoiding travel to the Republic of Equatorial Guinea and the United Republic of Tanzania until Marburg virus is controlled.https://t.co/9uVaBZ9UKE#SPA pic.twitter.com/Eiyk6hpRJ8

— SPA General (@SPAregions) March 31, 2023

Bahrain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also called on citizens not to travel to the Federal Republic of Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea for the same reason.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on all citizens not to travel to the Federal Republic of Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea https://t.co/PFlwP3U7Gr pic.twitter.com/4w99oHilyv

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs 🇧🇭 (@bahdiplomatic) April 1, 2023

In February, nine people died of Marburg virus in eastern Equatorial Guinea, and authorities imposed a quarantine in one of the provinces to contain the epidemic.

Specialists estimate the average death rate in people infected with the Marburg virus at about 50%. Death rates vary by case from 24% to 88% in previous outbreaks, depending on the strain of the virus and the management of the disease, according to the World Health Organization.

What is the Marburg virus and when did it appear?

Marburg virus appears under an electron microscope in the form of stretched filaments that twist to form foreign bodies at times and is transmitted to humans by "fruit bats" and then spreads between humans rapidly through direct contact with infected bodily fluids such as blood, saliva or urine, as well as on surfaces and materials.

Marburg haemorrhagic fever was first detected in 1967 in Marburg and Frankfurt, Germany, and in Belgrade, the former Yugoslavia. The first cases were recorded among laboratory workers who had contact with African green monkeys imported from Uganda.

The first death from the virus was recorded on 24 August 1967 at the University Hospital of Marburg in a patient named Marga Sunlin who was the tenth patient with severe headaches, fever and vomiting, with annoying diarrhoea, strange rashes and bleeding.

In 2005, Angola saw 329 people die from HIV out of 374 infected, a mortality rate of 88%.

Symptoms of the disease

Symptoms begin with a sudden severe headache and severe malaise with aches, muscle aches and high fever, followed by gradual and rapid weakness, acute watery diarrhea, pain and abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting, and diarrhea can last a whole week.

Many patients with Marburg virus show severe bleeding symptoms, vomiting and stools often accompanied by blood, and may have bleeding from the nose, gums or vagina.

Severe fever is also a symptom, infection of the central nervous system can lead to irritability and aggression, and a non-itchy rash can occur on the chest, back or abdomen.

Death is generally preceded by severe bleeding and blood loss, as well as dysfunction of several organs.

therapy

There is no specific and curative treatment against Marburg virus, and managing the patient's condition includes providing medical support.