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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last week issued a travel notice (Alert Level 2 -Yellow) for Equatorial Guinea due to the expanding and ongoing Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak.
On February 13, 2023, Equatorial Guinea declared an outbreak of Marburg virus disease. Confirmed cases have been reported in multiple provinces.
The health agency advises to avoid non-essential travel to the provinces where the outbreak is occurring.
The Alert Level for this MVD outbreak (2-Yellow), which advise to Practice enhanced precautions for this destination. The Travel Health Notice describes additional precautions added, or defines a specific at-risk population.
This alert level is higher than the travel notice alert level for Tanzania and their Marburg outbreak (Watch Level 1 (Green): Practice usual precautionsfor this destination, as described in the Travel Health Notice and/or on the destination page. This includes being up-to-date on all recommended vaccines and practicing appropriate mosquito avoidance.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is working with local health authorities to identify cases and conduct case investigations, strengthen surveillance, identify sources of transmission, and educate communities about the risks and dangers of Marburg.
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CDC advises:
- If you travel to Equatorial Guinea, you should:
- Avoid contact with sick people who have symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, and rash.
- Avoid contact with blood and other body fluids.
- Avoid contact with dead bodies or items that have been in contact with dead bodies, participating in funeral or burial rituals, or attending a funeral or burial.
- Avoid visiting healthcare facilities in the outbreak area for nonurgent medical care or for nonmedical reasons.
- Avoid visiting traditional healers.
- Avoid contact with fruit bats and the caves and mines where they live.
- Avoid nonhuman primates (e.g., chimpanzees, gorillas).
- Watch your health for symptoms of Marburg while in the outbreak area and for 21 days after leaving the outbreak area.
- If you develop fever, chills, muscle pain, rash, sore throat, diarrhea, weakness, vomiting, stomach pain, or unexplained bleeding or bruising while in the outbreak area, you should separate yourself from others (isolate) and seek medical care immediately.
Follow additional recommendations after you return to the United States.
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