November 29th 2024.
Attention all travelers, a warning has been issued regarding the spread of three deadly viruses - Marburg, Mpox, and Oropouche - in 17 different countries. These viruses can cause fevers, rashes, diarrhea, and even death. Marburg, also known as the "bleeding eyes" virus due to one of its symptoms, has already claimed 15 lives in Rwanda and has potentially infected hundreds of others.
The situation is particularly concerning because Marburg has a 50-50 chance of resulting in death and could potentially spread to other African countries that are already dealing with outbreaks of other diseases. Mpox clade 1 has also been detected in several countries, including the UK, where there have been five confirmed cases this year. Previously, this virus was only found in five countries in central Africa.
Just recently, a new case of Mpox was announced in Leeds, UK, and it was revealed that the individual had recently returned from Uganda. The other four cases were all members of the same household in London, with the first case having returned from Africa on October 21. Professor Susan Hopkins, the chief medical adviser at the UK Health Security Agency, stated that Mpox is highly contagious among household members and it is not surprising to see further cases within the same household.
While the overall risk to the UK population remains low, Travel Health Pro - a website commissioned by the UK Health Security Agency - is urging travelers to take extra precautions. Since there is no pre-travel vaccine available for Mpox in the UK, it is advised to consult with a health professional before traveling abroad. Pregnant and immunosuppressed individuals are particularly at risk for severe infection, so it is important to check your travel health insurance before embarking on a trip.
To prevent the spread of these viruses, it is recommended to avoid contact with people who are unwell or have a rash, regularly wash your hands and use hand sanitizer, and avoid touching your face. Additionally, another virus called Oropouche is being spread by midge bites in several South American countries and a popular Caribbean state for tourists. While there are no specific medicines or vaccines for this virus, it has already infected over 10,000 people and resulted in a small number of deaths.
Now let's take a closer look at the symptoms of each of these viruses. Marburg is rare and unusual in travelers, but sporadic cases have been reported in individuals who have spent extended periods in mines or caves inhabited by bat colonies. It is spread through contact with infected individuals' skin, blood, secretions, bodily fluids, and mucous membranes. Symptoms can appear between two to 21 days after infection and include fever, severe headaches, malaise, muscle aches, and pains. On the third day, patients may experience watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramping, nausea, vomiting, and a non-itchy rash. By the fifth day, symptoms progress to include bleeding from various parts of the body, confusion, irritability, and inflammation of the testicles.
Similarly, symptoms of Mpox may not appear until up to 21 days after infection and the most common sign is a rash that can last for a month. This rash appears as blisters and sores on the face, palms, soles of feet, groin, genitals, and anal area. Other initial symptoms include a high temperature, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen glands, shivering, exhaustion, and joint pain.
Oropouche virus also has an incubation period of three to 10 days before symptoms appear. These symptoms, which can last for approximately a week, include fever, headache, joint pain, muscle pain, chills, nausea, vomiting, and a rash.
In conclusion, it is crucial for travelers to take extra precautions when visiting countries with outbreaks of Marburg, Mpox, or Oropouche viruses. Consult with a health professional before traveling, avoid contact with infected individuals, and practice good hygiene to prevent the spread of these deadly diseases. Stay informed and stay safe.
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