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Health Advice for Travellers
Swiss Expert Committee for Travel Medicine

 

Health Advice for Travellers
Swiss Expert Committee for Travel Medicine

 

Health Advice for Travellers
Swiss Expert Committee for Travel Medicine

As of 24 November 2025:

  • 10 cases of Marburg virus disease (MVD), including five deaths, have been confirmed in Jinka town, South Ethiopia Regional State. Five cases are currently receiving treatment (including one critically ill).
  • Three additional MVD deaths are classified as probable cases (deaths before testing was available).
  • More suspected MVD cases are still under investigations.
  • More than 200 contacts have been identified.
  • The source of the infection has not yet been identified. 

No international transmission has been confirmed, but the risk remains. Jinka, though far from Ethiopia’s capital and major airports, is connected by roads to neighbouring Kenya and South Sudan and is considered as a touristic destination, especially for travelers interested in culture and anthropology. For details on MVD, see Marburg virus disease factsheet.

 

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Avoid travel to the affected regions, unless necessary. WHO assesses the public health risk posed by the outbreak as high at the national level, moderate at the regional level and low at the global level.

 

Preventive measures:

  • Wash your hands regularly and carefully using soap and water (or alcohol gel if soap is unavailable).
  • Avoid contact with sick people who have symptoms, such as fever, muscle pain, and rash.
  • Avoid contact with blood and other body fluids.
  • Avoid visiting healthcare facilities in the MVD-affected areas for nonurgent medical care or non-medical reasons.
  • Avoid contact with dead bodies or items that have been in contact with dead bodies, participating in funeral or burial rituals, or attending a funeral or burial. 
  • Avoid handling, cooking, or eating bush/wild meat (meat of wild/feral mammals killed for food).
  • Wash and peel fruit and vegetables before consumption.
  • Avoid visiting mines or bat caves and contact with all wild animals, alive or dead, particularly bats.
  • If you decide to visit mines or caves inhabited by fruit bat colonies, wear gloves and other appropriate protective clothing, including masks and eye protection.
  • Practice safer sex.

 

During travel and upon return:

  • Watch your health for symptoms of Marburg while in the outbreak area and for 21 days after leaving the outbreak area (no quarantine is required if there are no symptoms).

 

In case of symptoms:
If you develop fever and nonspecific symptoms such as chills, headache, muscle pain or abdominal pain:

  • You should separate yourself from others (isolate) immediately and
  • Directly contact the in-country hotline by phone or contact a tropical institute or university hospital infectious disease unit.
  • Alert the healthcare providers of your recent travel to an area with a Marburg outbreak.

 

For clinicians:

  • Consider Marburg as a possible diagnosis in patients with epidemiologic risks factors, especially in people with possible exposure of Marburg cases in Ethiopia
  • Further information on evaluation and diagnosis: see LINK and ECDC risk assessment.
WHO DON, 21.11.2025 | Via BEACON, 24.11.2025

Namibia: Between 8 and 13 November 2025, three additional rabies cases were confirmed in Cape fur seals in Walvis Bay (Pelican Point), Erongo Region, following the first case in June 2025 at Walvis Bay Lagoon (see EpiNews 23 June 2025). All samples tested positive, confirming ongoing transmission.

 

South Africa: Rabies in Cape fur seals has spread to the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The first confirmed case involves multiple near-bite incidents involving surfers.


The South African Veterinary Association reports that rabies is becoming endemic among Cape fur seals along the Cape coast, marking an unprecedented shift from isolated incidents to ongoing transmission among marine mammals. 

 

Infected seals displayed aggressive behavior, including biting and attacking surfers and boats, posing a direct risk to public safety.

seal.png

The Directorate of Veterinary Services issued a public advisory urging visitors to exercise extreme caution in seal-inhabited areas. Stay away from seals as far as possible! Do not allow your dogs close to these animals either. Any person bitten by a seal is urged to seek immediate medical attention!

 

General advice:

Prevention: Avoid contact with animals and do not feed them! Travellers are advised to get a pre-exposure vaccination, especially those at higher risk, such as individuals working with animals, practicing surfing, riding two-wheelers, visiting remote areas, young children, cave explorers, or anyone who may come in contact with bats.

 

Behavior after exposure: After an animal bite/scratch: immediately wash the wound with water and soap for 15 minutes, then disinfect and in any case visit a high-quality medical center for post-exposure vaccination as soon as possible!

Namibia Economist, 21.11.2025 | Nova News, 4.11.2025 | Additional information via BEACON

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