CDC Screening Travelers From Rwanda for Deadly Marburg Virus at 3 Airports

CDC Screening Travelers From Rwanda for Deadly Marburg Virus at 3 Airports

Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) is a severe, often fatal hemorrhagic fever that originates from the same family of viruses as the infamous Ebola.

Rwanda, an African country, has been dealing with a Marburg virus outbreak this year. In light of the deadly effects of this virus and the continuing infections, the Department of Health and Human Services has now ordered that travelers coming into this country who have been in Rwanda in the previous 21 days will be screened starting next week.

There are no confirmed cases of Marburg virus disease – a rare but deadly hemorrhagic disease similar to Ebola – outside Rwanda, and officials have said that the current risk to the US is low. However, HHS says the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will begin public health entry screening the week of October 14 in an effort to reduce the risk of the importation and spread of cases.

The CDC is also issuing a Level 3 Travel Health Notice, recommending that people reconsider nonessential travel to Rwanda, and sending automated texts to air travelers arriving from Rwanda to share information and instructions.

As of Monday, there have been 56 confirmed cases of Marburg in Rwanda, with 36 people in isolation and treatment, and 12 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health. Many of the cases are in health-care workers, the CDC says.

The three airports are in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and New York.

“The Biden-Harris Administration has announced a plan to begin public health entry screening at three U.S. airports for people coming from the Republic of Rwanda to reduce the risk of importation of Marburg virus disease into the United States,” Rosa Norman, a CDC spokesperson, said in a statement to USA TODAY.

“Airline passengers who have been in Rwanda in the last 21 days will have their travel to the United States rerouted to Chicago (ORD), New York (JFK), and Washington DC (IAD) where these travelers will undergo public health entry screening upon arrival,” Norman said.

The screening is an effort to reduce the risk of spread of the virus within the United States, the CDC said.

The Human-to-human spread of the Marburg Virus occurs through contact with body fluids. Healthcare workers are reported to account for 80% of the current cases. Depending on the outbreak, the fatality rate can be as high as 88%.

Currently, no specific treatment or vaccine is approved for widespread use, though supportive care can help. However, a new vaccine for Marburg is starting clinical trials, and it is hoped to offer protection to frontline healthcare workers as Rwanda struggles to contain this outbreak.

The east African country has received 700 doses of the vaccine from the Sabin Vaccine Institute, a US-based non-profit organisation.

Those most at risk, like doctors, and those who have come in contact with Marburg patients, will be the initial target for the vaccine, according to Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana

…Nsanzimana said “people should not worry” about health concerns about the vaccine as trials had already been held in Kenya and Uganda.

The Marburg vaccine has only been tested in adults aged 18 and older, with no current plans to conduct trials in children.

The health minister said there were plans to order more doses.

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