The US Embassy has warned Americans against travel to Uganda after health officials detected a case of a deadly eye-bleeding virus.
The World Health Organization confirmed Tuesday that Uganda has detected its first Marburg virus case since 2017 in the country’s western region, after being formally notified by the country’s health authorities.
The US State Department issued a Level 4 travel advisory, warning Americans to avoid all travel to Uganda due to the growing health risks.
Uganda, as well as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is already in the thick of containing what has become the third-largest Ebola outbreak in Central Africa on record. The current outbreak has recorded more than 1,000 cases between both countries.
Marburg virus spreads through direct contact with blood or other bodily fluids of infected people, as well as contact with contaminated surfaces or the bodies of those who have died from the infection.
Traditional burial practices, which often involve washing and preparing the dead, pose a particularly high risk of transmission, experts warn.
Marburg virus is a close cousin of Ebola, belonging to the same family of viruses known as filoviruses.
Both diseases cause viral hemorrhagic fever, which can lead to bleeding from the eyes, nose and mouth in severe cases, as well as internal bleeding and organ damage. The fatality rate can be as high as 88 percent in some outbreaks.
A burial team in Uganda burns remains of someone who died from Marburg virus. Experts warn that traditional burials, which involve washing and handling the dead, carry a high risk of spreading the virus
The US Embassy in Kampala, the capital city, said: ‘The US Embassy is aware there are reports of a potential case of Marburg Virus Disease, a viral hemorrhagic fever, in western Uganda.
‘The measures to protect yourself are the same as for any viral hemorrhagic fever, such as Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Disease.’
These preventive measures include avoiding contact with sick people, their bodily fluids and the bodies of those who have died from the infection.
A source with direct knowledge of the situation, speaking on condition of anonymity, told STAT News that Uganda had actually detected two Marburg cases as of Monday.
The person said the outbreak appears to be localized for now.
There are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments for Marburg, though several experimental options are in development, including vaccine candidates and antiviral drugs being tested in early-stage trials.
This stands in contrast to Ebola, where vaccines and therapies have been deployed successfully in recent outbreaks.
Both Ebola and Marburg have an incubation period of up to 21 days, meaning travelers could carry the virus without showing symptoms for weeks.
The US Embassy is advising travelers to monitor their health for a full three weeks after leaving Uganda, and to alert healthcare providers to their travel when seeking care if they develop any symptoms.
Dr Mark Katz, a WHO member, takes an oral sample from a suspected Marburg patient in Angola, 2005
Like Ebola, Marburg is transmitted through direct contact with infected bodily fluids, contaminated objects or the bodies of victims
Uganda has a strong track record of containing viral hemorrhagic fevers and has dealt with five Marburg outbreaks since the virus was first identified in 1967.
However, the country has also faced criticism for being slow to share information during disease outbreaks, potentially due to fears about the impact on its tourism industry.
The government is currently pushing for the US and other countries to lift travel restrictions imposed on Ugandan nationals and travelers who have been in the country within the past 21 days.
Health officials there have also stressed that airport screening measures are already in place and that the risk of international spread is low.
Screening measures include temperature checks, health questionnaires, and monitoring passengers arriving from affected regions for symptoms such as fever and fatigue.
Malaria, which is widespread in the region, can cause similar early symptoms like fever, headache and muscle pain, making diagnosis tricky in the early stages.
The key difference is that Marburg symptoms worsen rapidly, while malaria can be confirmed with a simple blood test.
The WHO has said it is requesting more information from Ugandan health officials and will continue updating member states and the public as the situation develops.
For now, the outbreak remains contained, but health officials around the world are watching closely as the country battles two viral threats at once.
