Marburg Outbreaks Initiate Another Arab Country Warning

The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) today announced it urges the public to be aware of the Marburg virus causing hemorrhagic fever.

And to avoid traveling to Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea unless necessary due to the recent spread of the Marburg virus.

The MoHAP said in a statement on April 4, 2023, if travel is unavoidable, necessary precautions should be taken to avoid exposure to the disease, such as avoiding close contact with patients, touching contaminated surfaces, and refraining from visiting caves and mines.

This announcement comes after several Arab countries have already advised their citizens to postpone traveling to those two countries due to the same concern. 

Both the U.S. Department of State and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued travel alerts related to these Marburg outbreaks.

As of April 5, 2023, no Marburg preventive vaccine is authorized in the U.S.