Health officials continue to monitor an outbreak of Marburg virus — also known as "bleeding eye virus" — in Rwanda, which has sparked concerns about a potential spread outside the country.
The U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory on Nov. 22, recommending that travelers exercise "increased caution" in Rwanda due to the outbreak.
"Travelers may be subject to additional health screenings [when] entering and exiting Rwanda," the advisory stated.
The first case in Rwanda was confirmed in September. As of Nov. 29, the country had reported 66 cases of the virus and 15 deaths. Most of the infected people have been health care workers.
Approximately 75% of the patients with Marburg have recovered, according to the CDC.
"Marburg is one of the deadliest viruses that infect humans," Dr. Marc Siegel, senior medical analyst for Fox News and clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, told Fox News Digital.
"It is very similar to Ebola in that it causes hemorrhagic fever."
Initial symptoms usually mimic the flu, including fever, body aches, diarrhea, abdominal pain and vomiting.
The interval between infection and symptoms is typically two to 21 days, according to Siegel.
In severe cases, patients may experience extreme weight loss, jaundice, inflammation of the pancreas, delirium, shock, liver failure, massive hemorrhaging and multi-organ dysfunction, the CDC stated.
It can also cause bleeding from the eyes, nose, mouth or gastrointestinal tract, hence the nickname "bleeding eye virus."
The virus is transmitted via bodily surfaces, blood and contact with contaminated surfaces, according to Siegel.
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