Muscat: Oman has advised not to travel to the African countries of Tanzania and Guinea following the spread of the Marburg virus.
Marburg is a member of the filovirus family that includes Ebola, which can kill 60 to 80 percent of those who contract it. The disease is transmitted to humans from bats. If it reaches humans, it can spread to others through blood and other bodily fluids. It got its name because the virus was first detected in the town of Marburg, Germany in 1967.
The disease manifests itself within three to nine days following the virus enters the body. Marburg disease goes undiagnosed in its early stages because of the similar symptoms of malaria, yellow fever, and typhoid fever. The mortality rate ranges from 24 to 88 percent in previously infected areas. Earlier cases of Marburg virus were reported in South Africa, Kenya, Uganda and Congo.
The spread of the virus in Tanzania and Guinea is being monitored by the Directorate General of Disease Control and Surveillance and the Emergency Management Center under the leadership of the Ministry of Health. The authorities also advised the citizens and residents to be prepared to take information only from official sources of the Ministry. The Ministry of Health has advised to postpone travel to countries where the virus has been reported, unless it is essential.
In case of urgent travel, the following precautions should be taken
-Avoid direct contact with patients with symptoms such as fever, muscle aches and itching.
-Avoid visiting areas affected by Marburg virus disease
-Avoid contact with other people’s blood and other bodily fluids
-Avoid contact with bats, as well as avoid visiting caves and mines where they live
-Avoid contact with animals like chimpanzees and gorillas
-Returning passengers must stay in isolation for up to 21 days. In case of fever, chills, muscle pain, rash, sore throat, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, bleeding and bruises on the body, consult the nearest health centers.
