WHO issues travel advice on Marburg-hit Angola

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Travellers to Angola, where Marburg disease has killed 210 people, should avoid close contact with ill people and countries may wish to screen returning visitors, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Thursday.

In its first advice on travel since the outbreak began last October, the U.N. agency also said that people with existing medical conditions who might require hospitalisation “should consider deferring non-essential travel to Angola”.

At least 14 of the 210 people known to have died of the disease - a haemorrhagic fever transmitted through bodily fluids including saliva and blood - have been health workers. Most of the total 231 cases have been in northern Uige province.

"WHO does not recommend restrictions on travel to any destination within Angola, but does advise some precautions. Travellers to Angola should be aware of the outbreak of Marburg haemorrhagic fever and of the need to avoid close contact with ill persons,” it said in a statement posted overnight.

Countries having close ties with Angola, and whose citizens travel frequently there, may wish to consider introducing measures to increase vigilance for potential symptoms in travellers returning from Angola, according to the WHO.

“In some cases, the introduction of screening procedures to identify potentially infected persons may be considered,” it said.

To date, the Geneva-based agency was not aware of any cases of Marburg that have occurred in foreign nationals other than those involved in the care of cases in Uige, it said.

Travellers leaving Angola should seek medical attention if any illness with fever develops within 10 days of their departure and should inform health care workers of their recent travel, it said. 

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