Recommendations for travellers due to the Marburg virus
There is an ongoing outbreak of Marburg virus disease in Rwanda since September 2024. The disease is rare, but can cause haemorrhagic fever with a high mortality rate. We have therefore issued recommendations for those planning to travel to Rwanda.
Travel to Rwanda
If you will be travelling to Rwanda, it is important that you follow the advice and recommendations given below:
- Follow the Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ recommendations for travelling to or spending time in Rwanda. Further information is available on the Sweden Abroad website.
- Find out whether there is an outbreak of Marburg virus in the parts of the country you plan to visit. Further information can be found, for example, on the CDC website.
- Follow the recommendations of local authorities.
- Avoid visiting healthcare facilities in parts of the country affected by the Marburg virus for non-emergency or non-medical reasons. The Public Health Agency of Sweden assesses there to be an increased risk of infection when visiting, receiving medical care or working in the healthcare sector in Rwanda, especially in the affected hospitals.
- Avoid contact with people who have symptoms of Marburg virus disease (fever, vomiting, diarrhoea and bleeding). Also avoid bed linen, funeral shrouds and similar items that may have come into contact with body fluids.
- In particular, avoid contact with fruit bats and their droppings, as well as close contact with other wildlife. Also avoid cooking and eating bushmeat.
- Keep in mind that you may be temporarily denied re-entry if you have developed symptoms of Marburg virus or any other infectious disease while abroad.
After returning to Sweden
- After travelling in tropical areas, you should always contact your healthcare provider by calling call +46 771-117700 if you have a fever or other symptoms of an infection to rule out malaria and other tropical diseases. Be sure to let them know if you have travelled to areas where the Marburg virus is present so that sample collection and examination can be performed safely. This is especially true if you suspect you have contracted the Marburg virus.
- If you are an aid worker, see our guide on Ebola and Marburg below.