Travel Health Update From On Call’s Chief Medical Officer: Sudan Virus Disease

March 8, 2025

This On Call International article will discuss the following:

- What Sudan Virus Disease (SVD) is and why travelers should be aware of it, providing an overview of this serious viral hemorrhagic illness, its symptoms, potential complications, and the health risks it can pose to individuals traveling in regions where outbreaks have occurred.
- How Sudan Virus Disease spreads and who may be at increased risk of exposure, explaining the modes of transmission, including contact with infected bodily fluids, contaminated materials, and certain high-risk activities, while highlighting the environments and situations where transmission is most likely to occur.
- Practical steps travelers can take to reduce their risk of infection while abroad, including avoiding contact with infected individuals and contaminated materials, understanding local health risks, recognizing symptoms early, and seeking prompt medical assistance if illness develops during or after travel.

Sudan Virus Disease (SVD), a viral illness in the same family as Ebola, has recently been cropping up in the news and is on travelers’ radars. With increased awareness of its risks, our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Michelle Nathan, shares her expertise on this disease, its transmission, and essential precautions travelers can take to stay safe. Understanding how SVD spreads and how to protect yourself is crucial for anyone planning to travel to affected regions.

What is Sudan Virus Disease?
Sudan virus disease (SVD) is a viral hemorrhagic fever disease that is in the same family as Ebola virus disease. SVD is a severe, often fatal illness. It is characterized by acute onset of fever with nonspecific symptoms (abdominal pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, malaise). Several days later, patients develop nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and occasionally a rash. Severe illness includes bleeding, bruising, encephalopathy, hypotension and multi-organ failure. Individuals who recover may have longer sequelae including joint pain, cognitive dysfunction, and ocular diseases. The vaccines licensed against Ebola virus disease do not provide protection against SVD and cannot be used in this outbreak.

How Does SVD Spread?
Sudan virus is transmitted by direct contact with blood, other bodily fluids, organs or contaminated surfaces and materials. The risk of transmission begins with the onset of clinical signs and increases as the disease becomes more severe. Family members, healthcare providers, and participants in burial/death ceremonies are most at risk. The incubation period is typically 7 to 11 days.

How Can Travelers Prevent SVD?
Prevention of spread includes avoiding contact with blood and body fluids of ill individuals, avoiding contact with items that may be contaminated with infected body fluids, avoiding funerals/burial practices that involve touching the body of an infected individual, avoiding contact with infected animal or raw meat from these animals and avoiding contact with semen from men who have recovered from SVD.

In the event you or one of your travelers experiences the above symptoms, On Call travelers can rest assured they can contact us for 24/7 global emergency assistance. Contact us today to learn more.

About On Call International:
When traveling, every problem is unique–a medical crisis, a political threat, even a common accident such as a missed flight. But every solution starts with customized care that ensures travelers are safe and protected. That’s why for over 30 years, On Call International has provided fully-customized travel risk management and emergency assistance services protecting millions of travelers, their families, and their organizations. Visit www.oncallinternational.com and follow us on LinkedIn to learn more.