A major project management summit which had been scheduled to take place in November in Rwanda’s capital, Kigali has been postponed until further notice due to the recent outbreak of the deadly Marburg and Monkeypox viral diseases.
So far Rwanda has recorded 61 confirmed cases, of which 14 deaths have occurred and the country has administered 501 vaccine doses by Friday. Rwanda reported its first Marburg disease outbreak on 27 September.
The US based Project Management Institute (PMI) had organised a summit to take place 18th-20 November at the Kigali Convention Centre in Rwanda.
“We regret to announce that PMI Global Summit Series 2024 Africa has been postponed,” reads a statement posted on the Institute’s website.
“The emergence of the Marburg virus and related safety concerns could risk the health and safety of our attendees, which remains our topmost priority,” the statement reads in part.
“While this decision was not made lightly, it aligns with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) escalating Rwanda’s travel advisory to its second-highest level, strongly recommending that individuals avoid all nonessential travel to the country,” it says.
The organisers said, “We are committed to rescheduling the event when conditions improve.”
Due to the outbreak of Marburg, the United States government has issued a travel advisory to its citizens cautioning them to reconsider non essential traveling to the Eastern Africa country.
However, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus the Director-General of the World Health Organization has noted that travel restrictions are not needed.
“Based on the current Mpox and Marburg outbreak risk assessments, WHO advises that no travel and trade restrictions are needed,” said Tedros.
“Priority should be given to public health advice and concerted, collaborative public health efforts by all partners to contain the outbreaks and protect people everywhere,” He added.