Thailand to Screen For Marburg Virus at Points of Entry for Certain Travelers –

The Department of Disease Control (DDC) has instructed international disease control checkpoints to screen all arrivals from countries with confirmed cases of Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) as a precautionary measure.

The announcement follows the World Health Organization (WHO) reporting the first-ever MVD outbreak on February 13 in Equatorial Guinea.

DDC Director-General Dr Tares Krassanairawiwong said 200 people who are considered to be at high-risk in Equatorial Guinea have been quarantined. In addition, two confirmed cases and 42 likely cases have been reported in Cameroon, which shares a border with Equatorial Guinea.

DDC Deputy Director-General Dr Sophon Iamsirithavorn noted that although MVD has not yet been detected in Thailand, it is classified as one of the 13 dangerous infectious diseases by the Infectious Diseases Act. The country has not yet imposed a…