The World Health Organization (WHO) on October 10 advised all countries to refrain from implementing any travel and trade restrictions with Rwanda, in the context of the ongoing Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak, basing the decision on its assessment of the situation.

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Following the declaration of the outbreak by Rwanda, "several countries have introduced travel-related health measures, including temporarily discouraging travel to Rwanda,” the UN health agency stated.

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"At this time travel and trade restrictions are ineffective and unnecessary for the control of the ongoing outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) in Rwanda and are potentially harmful to the affected societies and economies,” WHO said in the travel advice.

The UN agency stated that travel and trade restrictions may act as a disincentive for the rapid sharing of public health data and information with and amongst the global health community, which is critical for informed outbreak response.

On September 27, Rwanda’s Ministry of Health confirmed the country’s first outbreak of Marburg virus disease, with health care workers in Kigali particularly affected.

While sporadic outbreaks have occurred in various parts of Africa since the first recognised cases in Germany in 1967, this outbreak is so far the third largest outbreak of MVD ever recorded, it is noted.

The government of Rwanda has implemented public health measures to respond to the ongoing outbreak, including the detection, investigation, isolation, and testing of all suspected cases, it observed.

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According to WHO, the government of Rwanda also conducted extensive contact tracing to limit the outbreak to the existing chains of transmission, and all confirmed cases are isolated and treated at a designated Marburg treatment centre.

"Since the outbreak declaration, all new confirmed cases have been reported within the hospital clusters in Kigali. There is currently no evidence of community transmission.”

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Also, based on the current risk assessment, WHO called on countries to act in line with the requirements of the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) and in the spirit of global solidarity and collaboration. In accordance with the IHR (2005), it indicated, travel and trade restrictions refer to health measures that pose significant interference with international traffic by refusing the entry or departure of international travellers, baggage, cargo, containers, conveyances, goods, and the like, or their delay, for more than 24 hours.

Efforts and resources should be directed towards evidence-based public health interventions such as strengthened surveillance for early detection, reporting, and contact tracing; case management; infection prevention and control; risk communication and community engagement; and cross-border collaboration and avoid unnecessary interference with international traffic, it advised.

It recommended countries to provide up-to-date advice to travellers, in line with cases, contacts and individuals in affected areas who present with signs and symptoms compatible with the Marburg virus disease case definition should avoid undertaking any travel, including internationally, until they are determined to no longer constitute a public health risk to others by their health provider or public health authority.

It further recommended that travellers going to affected areas should stay up-to-date on the evolution of the outbreak, avoid contact with anyone presenting with MVD symptoms (like fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or bleeding) and, or with any materials and surfaces contaminated by their bodily fluids, as well as avoid contact with infected people’s bodies, including during funerals.

Travelers who have returned from affected areas within the previous 21 days and who feel sick with early symptoms (like fever or bleeding) and think they may have been exposed, should isolate themselves and contact a doctor.

The UN health agency is supporting Rwanda by deploying experts and providing critical supplies for diagnosis, infection, prevention and control, and care for patients, the agency stated.