The US Embassy in Kampala has issued a Level 4 travel advisory warning Americans to avoid all travel to Uganda after health authorities reported a potential case of Marburg Virus Disease in west of the country.
The embassy said it was monitoring reports of a suspected infection involving the highly lethal haemorrhagic virus, which is closely related to Ebola and can cause severe internal and external bleeding, including from the eyes.
Ugandan health officials have activated surveillance protocols following the suspected case, with samples undergoing further testing.
Marburg spreads through direct contact with blood or bodily fluids of infected individuals, contaminated surfaces, or the bodies of those who have died from the disease.
Traditional burial practices, which involve washing and preparing the deceased, pose a significant transmission risk.
Fatality rates in past outbreaks have reached up to 88 percent.
Preventive measures mirror those used for Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Disease, with authorities urging people to avoid contact with sick individuals, their fluids and the bodies of victims.
There are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments for Marburg although experimental vaccines and antiviral candidates are in early‑stage trials.
This contrasts with Ebola where vaccines and therapies have been successfully deployed in recent outbreaks.
MG/jn/APA