UAE urges travellers from Marburg areas to isolate

The UAE's advising anyone who's been travelling from Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea to get a medical check up and to isolate.

The update from the Ministry of Health and Prevention comes after an outbreak of the potentially deadly Marburg virus in the African countries.

The statement adds those who have travelled from affected areas should inform medical staff if they've been to an area where Marburg virus disease is spreading, have been in contact with infected individuals, or exhibited symptoms for up to 21 days.

The Ministry has emphasised all necessary precautions are being taken in accordance with international health standards to contain the virus in its current geographical scope. The situation in the countries is being closely monitored to determine the global severity of the disease, MoHAP said in the statement.

The Ministry also recommended that individuals postpone their travel to countries where Marburg virus is spreading, unless it is absolutely necessary. If travel is unavoidable, necessary precautions should be taken to avoid exposure to the disease, such as avoiding close contact with patients, touching contaminated surfaces, and refraining from visiting caves and mines.

The Ministry stressed that the UAE’s epidemiological surveillance system is very effective and is in constant coordination with other health authorities.

Marburg virus disease is a severe and life-threatening hemorrhagic fever that is rare but highly dangerous to human health. The disease is caused by the Marburg virus, a zoonotic RNA virus that is transmitted from animals to humans in a closed environment, such as mines or caves inhabited by bats.

Symptoms of Marburg virus develop suddenly and include fever, chills, headache, myalgia, chest pain, and a sore throat. As the disease progresses, symptoms become increasingly severe and may include jaundice, severe weight loss, and other serious health complications.

MoHAP urges public to be aware of virus causing Marburg hemorrhagic fever #WamNews https://t.co/hGYCGZn38Y pic.twitter.com/UgG0mxMxqA

— WAM English (@WAMNEWS_ENG) April 4, 2023