Britons were today warned of a ‘triple threat’ of deadly viruses that have spread to more than a dozen countries around the world.
The clade I strain of mpox, Marburg and Oropouche viruses has now been detected in seventeen countries, including one Caribbean hotspot.
Officials are particularly alarmed by rising cases of Marburg, one of the deadliest pathogens ever discovered.
It has already killed minimum 15 people inside Rwandawith hundreds of people being monitored for suspected infection.
There are fears the virus, which causes patients to bleed from the eyes, could spread to other African countries.
The Oropouche virus – nicknamed ‘sloth fever’ – has now spread beyond its usual South American range to the Caribbean winter hotspot, the Dominican Republic.
Clade I, a distinct mutated form of mpox, is currently spreading rampantly in Africa, with a handful of cases also in Canada, the United Kingdom and Sweden.
The warning was issued by Travel Health Pro, a website commissioned by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), to keep Brits up to date with the latest travel health advice.
The Marburg virus, a relative of Ebola, causes people to bleed from their body orifices and kills up to 9 in 10 of those infected
Marburg has a mortality rate of up to 88 percent. There are currently no vaccines or treatments approved to treat the virus
It said: ‘A Marburg virus A disease outbreak has been reported Rwanda.’
‘There are also outbreaks of mpox clade I and Oropouche in several countries.’
Marburg is a hemorrhagic fever that damages organs and blood vessels, causing bleeding internally or from the eyes, mouth and ears.
The virus, for which there is no approved vaccine, can be spread by touching or handling bodily fluids from an infected person, contaminated objects or infected wild animals.
Infected patients become ‘ghost-like’ and often develop sunken eyes and expressionless faces.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says it has a case-fatality ratio (CFR) of up to 88 percent, meaning it can kill almost 9 in 10 people it infects.
Travelers to Rwanda should “make an appointment with their healthcare provider at least four to six weeks before travel,” according to Travel Health Pro.
Abroad, Britons should also avoid taking part in funeral or burial rituals, visiting traditional healers and handling, cooking or eating wild meat.
Marburg virus (MVD) is initially transmitted to humans from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the body fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials.
They should also avoid visiting mines or bat caves and contact with all wild animals; alive or dead, especially bats, they added.
‘If you decide to visit mines or caves inhabited by colonies of fruit bats, wear gloves and other appropriate protective clothing, including masks.’
The Oropouche virus, meanwhile, has caused alarm, with more than 10,000 confirmed cases this year alone.
In 2024, specific outbreaks have been recorded in Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Peru and Panama.
The virus – named after the animal in which it was initially spotted – has no vaccine or specific treatment.
It is known to cause headaches, muscle aches, stiff joints, nausea, chills, sensitivity to light and vomiting.
However, it can quickly cross the blood-brain barrier and enter the central nervous system, where it can cause meningitis and, in extreme cases, be fatal.
Travel Health Pro advised those in the areas mentioned to wear insect repellent, long-sleeved shirts and long pants to reduce the risk of bites.
The Oropouche virus, nicknamed ‘sloth fever’, has caused alarm, with more than 10,000 confirmed cases this year alone
They added: ‘Due to the recent discovery of Oropouche virus in semen, travelers and their partners who are concerned about the possible spread of Oropouche through sex should consider using condoms or not having sex while traveling and during six weeks after returning from a trip.’
Analysis of the current Oropouche strain suggests it has become more efficient at infecting humans and this could be a reason for the rise in cases and in areas where the strain has not been seen before.
The clade I species mpox has also been spotted in Rwanda, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Kenya and Uganda.
In August, the WHO declared the disease a public health emergency of international concern.
Mpox causes characteristic lumpy lesions, as well as fever, pain and fatigue.
However, in a small number of cases it can enter the blood, lungs and other parts of the body, where it becomes life-threatening.
Current MPOX vaccines, which are designed to work against smallpox, a close relative of the MPOX virus, were used against the milder variant during the 2022 outbreak.
But they have yet to be widely tested against the more potent clade 1b strain.
A confirmed case of clade Ib mpox was recently reported in Britain, after an unidentified individual visited a country where 1b had been reported.
Since then, three more cases have been discovered in the household contacts of the first case.