The United States government has issued a travel advisory urging American citizens to reconsider plans to visit Rwanda due to a recent outbreak of the Marburg virus. The advisory has been raised from Category 2 to Category 3 on a scale of 4, strongly recommending against travel.
Marburg virus, part of the filovirus family alongside Ebola, is known to cause severe hemorrhagic fever. Since the first reported cases on September 28, there have been 12 fatalities, primarily among healthcare workers. The virus has a mortality rate that can reach up to 88%, leading to severe symptoms such as fever and bleeding that affect multiple organs.
According to the Rwandan Ministry of Health, around 41 cases of infection have been documented. Given the seriousness of the outbreak, the US State Department stressed the importance of prioritizing health and safety when making travel decisions.
