Health Alert: U.S. Embassy Malabo

5 MINUTE READ

March 10, 2023

Location: Equatorial Guinea

Event: As of the morning of March 10, there have been no new confirmed cases of Marburg virus disease (MVD) in Equatorial Guinea (EG).

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) team in the Kie-Ntem province continues to provide training in testing methods to medical practitioners from the EG Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MINSABS). As testing increases in the coming days, it is possible that the number of identified existing cases will also increase. Announcements of any new confirmed cases will come directly from MINSABS, and the U.S. Embassy will share this information via alerts.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and CDC continue to support MINSABS’s contact tracing efforts to identify and monitor the health status of those who have been in contact with confirmed or suspected cases.

The Kie-Ntem province in the mainland region of EG remains under a general quarantine, and travel to and from the province is not allowed, except by medical workers.

The U.S. Embassy will continue to send out regular updates to U.S. citizens living in or traveling to EG until health officials declare an end to the crisis. These alerts will also be posted to the Embassy’s website here. More information on MVD can be found on the CDC’s website.

Actions to Take:

Immediately report to a qualified medical professional if you experience fever, muscle soreness, weakness, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or hemorrhaging.
Avoid contact with any individuals experiencing these symptoms or any people who have had contact with individuals displaying those symptoms.
Do not eat or handle bushmeat, especially monkeys and other primates. Avoid contact with animal cadavers for any reason.
Avoid caves or other areas where fruit bat populations reside.
Practice good hygiene, including regular hand washing.
Avoid large gatherings.
Do not attend wakes or funerals.
Do not attempt to travel to the Kie-Ntem province or surrounding areas until MINSABS and the WHO advise it is safe to do so.
If you reside in the Kie-Ntem province and/or are subject to the quarantine, alert the U.S. Embassy and follow instructions given by WHO and MINSABS officials.
Do not attempt to cross the land border between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon.
Monitor news programs and websites to stay abreast of new health announcements from the government.
Check your email regularly for additional updates from U.S. Embassy Malabo.