The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued advice against travel and trade restrictions with Rwanda in the context of the ongoing Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak in the country, and provided further details on the recommended public health measures, including advice to travelers.
WHO has also published an interim guidance for border health and points of entry for filovirus disease outbreaks.
During outbreaks of filovirus diseases (FVDs), health authorities should strengthen capacities for detection, reporting and management of cases and contacts, risk communication and community engagement, and infection prevention and control at points of entry (PoEs), on board conveyances and across borders based on a risk assessment. the release said.
Travel-related health measures implemented in response to FVD outbreaks should be based on a thorough risk assessment and reviewed regularly. They should not unnecessarily interfere with international travel and trade.
Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP) for the MVD outbreak in Rwanda (October to December 2024) aims to contain the outbreak through a coordinated and multisectoral approach, supported by a budget estimate of US$ 11 million.
The SPRP identifies the urgent measures required to support Rwanda’s national response plan, with the primary goal of stopping all transmission chains to control the outbreak rapidly, it added.
Meanwhile, fourteen countries on the African continent have reported mpox cases in the last six weeks and are considered to have active outbreaks. The most affected country in 2024 continues to be the Democratic Republic of the Congo (5610 confirmed cases, 25 deaths), followed by Burundi (853 confirmed cases, no deaths), and Nigeria (78 confirmed cases, no deaths).
