RIYADH — Saudi Arabia's Public Health Authority (Weqaya) has called on people to avoid traveling to Guinea and Tanzania due to Marburg virus. Weqaya said that people must not travel to Guinea and Tanzania until the outbreak of Marburg virus disease is brought under control. Those who are already in these two countries, must follow-up on the preventive measures issued from the Ministry of Health and Weqaya, in addition to following the instructions of the local health authorities. An official source in Weqaya said that these advices were based on what was issued from the health authorities of Guinea and Tanzania. Weqaya confirmed that the virus does not spread through the air, noting that there are two ways to transmit the virus, which is from human to human, or from animal to human. The Marburg virus is transmitted from human to human when touching private body fluids such as blood, urine, saliva, sweat, feces, vomit, etc., of a person infected with the virus, whether it is a living or dead person. Or through direct contact with things contaminated with the virus such as clothes, needles, bedding and medical equipment. As for the transmission of the Marburg virus from animals to humans, it is in the event that a person touches the blood or any fluids of a sick or dead animal infected with the disease. Regarding the incubation period of the virus, Weqaya said that symptoms will appear between 2 to 12 after exposure to the virus. The initial symptoms from 1 to 5 days will include loss of appetite, weakness, pain in the body such as back and abdomen, sudden fever, diarrhea, and severe headache. The follow-up or late symptoms of the virus are nausea, bleeding, skin rash, diarrhea or bloody stools, blood coming out from the nose or mouth, or any place where the skin is injured. Weqaya urged travelers to avoid unnecessary travel to endemic areas, pointing to the importance of the traveler isolating himself immediately and seeking care if any symptoms appear. Travelers coming from endemic areas must self-isolate if symptoms appear within 21 days of arrival, with the importance of contacting the Ministry of Health call center: 937.
