UK travellers are being cautioned to stay vigilant when visiting certain international destinations due to the outbreak of three potentially fatal viruses in 17 countries. Travel Health Pro, a platform established by the former Department of Health, raised alerts for regions including in parts of Africa, and South and Central America.
The diseases of concern are Marburg virus disease, the mpox Clade I variant, and Oropouche fever. According to the specialists at Travel Health Pro: “A Marburg virus disease outbreak has been reported in Rwanda. Multi-country outbreaks of mpox clade I and Oropouche are also ongoing.”
Nations currently affected are Rwanda, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Uganda, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guyana, Panama, and Peru.
Marburg virus
Marburg virus disease (MVD), as noted by the WHO, is an acute ailment with a mortality rate of up to 88 percent. Initial transmission to humans occurs through “prolonged exposure” to mines or caves inhabited by colonies of Rousettus fruit bats.
After entering human communities, Marburg virus can propagate via person-to-person contact through bodily fluids, and interaction with infected materials and surfaces. Symptoms of the disease can appear “abruptly”, with high fever, severe headache, and muscle aches and pains being common. Severe watery diarrhoea, abdominal pain and cramping, nausea and vomiting typically begin on the third day.
Patients have reported non-itchy rashes between two and seven days after symptoms start. From the fifth day, patients may develop haemorrhagic manifestations, including fresh blood in vomit and faeces, and bleeding from the nose, gums and vagina.
In fatal cases, death usually occurs between eight and nine days after symptom onset, often preceded by severe blood loss and shock. On September 27 this year, the Rwanda Ministry of Health confirmed the presence of MVD. As of October 9, a total of 58 confirmed cases, including 13 deaths, have been reported.
Mpox Clade I
In August this year, WHO declared the increasing number of mpox cases reported in Africa, notably the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Other countries severely affected by this outbreak include Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.
Sweden, Thailand and Germany have each reported one confirmed case of Clade Ib mpox in travellers linked to countries involved in the current Clade I outbreak. A confirmed case of Clade Ib mpox was recently reported in the UK in a returned traveller who had visited countries in Africa where Clade Ib has been reported.
Three additional cases have been identified in close contacts of the initial case. Mpox is primarily transmitted from person to person through close contact, including skin-to-skin contact such as touching or sex, mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-skin contact like kissing, and even face-to-face interactions where infectious respiratory particles may be generated.
Common symptoms include a rash lasting two to four weeks, potentially preceded or followed by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes.
Oropouche virus
In 2024, outbreaks of the Oropouche virus have been reported in several countries including Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guyana, Panama, and Peru, according to Travel Health Pro. As of October 5, a total of 10,275 confirmed cases, including two fatalities, have been reported in the Americas since the beginning of the year.
The virus is transmitted to humans via the bite of infected midges and mosquitoes. Symptoms include fever, headache, joint pain, muscle pain, chills, nausea, vomiting, and rash.
Most patients fully recover within seven days after symptom onset, says the WHO. It notes: “However, recovery can take weeks in some patients, and severe complications like aseptic meningitis may occasionally occur. Though deaths from Oropouche virus infection were not previously described, in 2024 there were two reports of deaths in previously healthy young adults with Oropouche virus infection.”
For further insights into these conditions and preventive measures, visit travelhealthpro.org.uk.