Oman Advises Public to Postpone Travel to Marburg-Affected Countries

The Omani Ministry of Health has posted a travel advisory for citizens and urged them to postpone travel to Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania due to the outbreak of the Marburg virus disease (MVD).

The ministry instructed travelers -- in case of an urgent need to be present in the two countries -- to take the necessary precautions to avoid the disease. You can check the instructions here. 

The Ebola-like disease has claimed several lives in the two African countries, with a fatality of up to 88 percent.

In mid-February, Equatorial Guinea declared an outbreak of the MVD. It has nine confirmed cases so far, including seven people who have died, according to the World Health Organization. 

Meanwhile, Tanzania declared an outbreak of the Marburg virus on March 21st, with five deaths out of eight confirmed cases to date.

MVD symptoms include fever, fatigue, and severe headache, before hemorrhagic symptoms begin within seven days. It can spread in humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people and surfaces.

 The risk of the disease spreading globally is low, according to the World Health Organization.