Foreign Office 'mandatory checks' warning as deadly virus outbreak hits winter sun destination

Tanzania beach
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Tanzania is grappling with a lethal Marburg Virus outbreak. The Kagera region, in particular, is dealing with 10 active cases labelled as Marburg, though only two have been confirmed.

The outbreak has already resulted in nine deaths, with a fatality rate nearing 90%. An update on the official Gov.uk. website now cautions British travellers: "The Government of Tanzania issued a travel advisory note on 21 January, mandating that travellers have their body temperature checked at all points of entry following an outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) in Kagera region. You must be ready to show your return or onward ticket at border control."

Travellers departing from the Kagera region will undergo mandatory exit screening and are required to fill out an online form. This is the same region that triggered a significant outbreak in 2023, sparking worries about its potential spread since it's a transit hub bordering Burundi, Rwanda, and Uganda.

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The World Health Organisation has described Marburg Virus Disease as a rare but severe and often deadly illness in humans, with past outbreaks showing fatality rates ranging from 24% to 88%. Scientists at Oxford have initiated the first human vaccine trial for Marburg virus as of last June, though there remains no cure or vaccine available.

Treatment is currently centred on supportive care and addressing symptoms individually, reports Birmingham Live. Early symptoms of the virus can manifest as a high fever, severe headache, and an intense feeling of discomfort throughout the body. As the illness advances, muscle aches and pains are typical, followed by severe watery diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and cramping.

Some patients may also experience a non-itchy rash within the first week of symptom onset. The World Health Organization (WHO) cautions: "In fatal cases, death occurs most often between eight and nine days after symptom onset, usually preceded by severe blood loss and shock."

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Transmission among humans occurs through direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected individuals, as well as exposure to contaminated surfaces and materials such as clothing. Importantly, individuals become contagious only once symptoms emerge, which could be anywhere from two days to three weeks post-infection.

Amid this health concern, the Foreign Office continues to advise travellers to Tanzania not to overlook vaccinations against common diseases like dengue fever, malaria, and cholera. Additionally, the department highlights that some visitors may face the risk of altitude sickness in certain regions of the country.