NEW YORK– New York State and City health officials are monitoring the Marburg virus after an outbreak in Rwanda.
Travelers arriving from Rwanda will be shown at John F. Kennedy International Airportas well as O’Hare International Airport in Chicago and Dulles International Airport in Virginia.
“We remain vigilant and leverage our public health partnerships, biosurveillance capabilities, clinical expertise and emergency preparedness, which are among the many factors that contributed to the decision to make New York City’s JFK Airport one of to make the three destinations for monitoring, testing and, if It is necessary to contain this rare disease,” said Dr. New York State Health Commissioner James McDonald said in a statement Thursday.
Screenings will begin next week for travelers who have been in Rwanda in the past three weeks, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Monday.
Passengers will be checked for fever and should expect to be asked questions about symptoms and possible exposure.
Anyone leaving Rwanda will also be screened for symptoms, the country’s health ministry said.
Rwanda is struggling with a deadly Marburg outbreak
At least 56 cases have been confirmed in Rwanda, the health ministry said on Monday, after seven more infections tested positive. A dozen deaths have been linked to the disease.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a Level 3 travel warning to Rwanda, urging Americans to “reconsider nonessential travel.” Level 4 is the highest warning.
At this time, no cases have been confirmed outside of Rwanda and health officials say the risk remains low in the United States.
“The risk is low at this time for New York City and the nation. We want to make sure people have all the facts. That’s why we will work closely with federal and state partners to screen travelers and provide guidance to providers and the public,” outgoing New York City Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan also said this in a statement. “We also routinely conduct emergency drills for patient transport and treatment, and the city will continue to practice these skills over the coming weeks in the unlikely event that they are needed.”
What is the Marburg virus? What you need to know about the symptoms
Marburg virus disease is a rare but serious disease, similar to Ebola virus disease. It can spread through contact with infected people or surfaces.
The World Health Organization notes that it does not spread through the air.
According to the CDC, symptoms include:
- Fever
- Chills
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Rash
- Chest pain
- A sore throat
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Unexplained bleeding or bruising
Marburg can be fatal and there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments specifically for the virus.
CBS News has more coverage of the Marburg outbreak and its symptoms here.
