Brits were today warned of a ‘triple threat’ of lethal viruses that have spread to more than a dozen countries worldwide.
The clade I strain of mpox, Marburg and Oropouche virus have now been spotted in 17 nations between them, including one Caribbean hotspot.
Officials are especially spooked by rising cases of Marburg, one of the deadliest pathogens ever discovered.
It has already killed at least 15 people in Rwanda, with hundreds of people being monitored for suspected infection.
It is feared the virus, which causes sufferers to bleed from the eyes, may spread to other African nations.
Oropouche virus — nicknamed ‘sloth fever’ — meanwhile, has spread outside of its usual South American range to the Caribbean winter hotspot, the Dominican Republic.
Clade I, a separate mutant form of mpox is currently spreading rampantly in Africa, with a handful cases also logged in Canada, the UK and Sweden.
The alert was issued by Travel Health Pro, a website commissioned by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), to help keep Brits informed of the latest travel health advice.
Marburg virus, a relative of Ebola, causes people to bleed from their 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 disease outbreak has been reported in Rwanda.’
‘Multi-country outbreaks of mpox clade I and Oropouche are also ongoing.’
Marburg is a haemorrhagic fever — where organs and blood vessels are damaged, causing bleeding internally or from the eyes, mouth and ears.
The virus, which has no licensed vaccine, can be spread by touching or handling body fluids of an infected person, contaminated objects or infected wild animals.
Infected patients become ‘ghost-like’, often developing deep-set 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 nearly 9 in 10 people it infects.
Travellers to Rwanda should ‘arrange an appointment with their health professional at least four to six weeks before travel’, Travel Health Pro said.
While abroad, Brits should also avoid participating in funeral or burial rituals, visiting traditional healers and handling, cooking, or eating wild meat.
Marburg virus (MVD) is initially transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials.
They should also steer clear of visiting mines or bat caves and contact with all wild animals; alive or dead, particularly bats, they added.
‘If you decide to visit mines or caves inhabited by fruit bat colonies, wear gloves and other appropriate protective clothing, including masks.’
Oropouche virus, meanwhile, has sparked alarm with more than 10,000 cases confirmed 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 it was initially spotted in — has no vaccine or specific treatment.
It is known to cause a headache, 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, kill.
Travel Health Pro advised those in the areas listed to wear insect repellent, long-sleeved shirts and long trousers to reduce the risk of bites.
Oropouche virus, nicknamed ‘sloth fever’, has sparked alarm with more than 10,000 cases confirmed this year alone
They added: ‘Due to the recent finding of Oropouche virus in semen, travellers and their partners concerned about possibly spreading Oropouche through sex, should consider using condoms or not having sex during travel and for six weeks after returning from travel.’
Analysis of the current Oropouche strain suggests it has grown to become more efficient at infecting people and this could be behind the rise in cases and in areas it hasn’t been seen in before.
The clade I strain of mpox has also been spotted in Rwanda, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya and Uganda.
In August, the WHO declared the strain a public health emergency of international concern.
Mpox causes characteristic lumpy lesions, as well as a fever, aches and pains and fatigue.
However, in a small number of cases, it can enter the blood and lungs, as well as other parts of the body, when it becomes life-threatening.
Current mpox vaccines, which are designed to work on smallpox a close relative of the mpox virus, were used during the 2022 outbreak against the milder strain.
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 the UK, after an unidentified individual visited a country where 1b had been reported.
Three further cases have since been detected in household contacts of the first case.
