Marburg Virus Breaks Out in Rwanda
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Loading... - JULIUS CHALO
- 08 Oct 2024
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Rwanda is currently experiencing its first outbreak of the Marburg virus, a highly contagious disease related to Ebola. Since the virus was identified in September, it has claimed the lives of 11 people. Rwanda's Health Minister, Sabin Nsanzimana, has confirmed that clinical trials of experimental vaccines and treatments are underway to contain the spread.
The Marburg virus, part of the Filoviridae family, is known for causing haemorrhagic fever, with symptoms appearing within two to 21 days after exposure. In severe cases, internal bleeding may occur within five to seven days. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the fatality rate for Marburg can range from 24% to 88%. The virus was first discovered in 1967 in Marburg, Germany, and Belgrade, Serbia, and is primarily transmitted by fruit bats, though human-to-human transmission occurs through direct contact with bodily fluids.
So far, Rwanda has reported 36 confirmed cases, with 25 individuals in isolation. Healthcare workers have been hit hard, accounting for 70% of the cases in two medical facilities. Experts like Amira Roess, a global health professor at George Mason University, suggest that inadequate infection control measures in resource-limited healthcare settings may be contributing to the spread. Authorities are also closely monitoring 300 people who came into contact with infected individuals.
While the WHO considers the risk within Rwanda to be very high, the global threat is currently low, as the virus has not been detected outside the country. In Germany, two passengers who feared exposure tested negative for Marburg, easing concerns about the virus spreading internationally.
There is no approved vaccine or treatment for the Marburg virus, but ongoing research is hopeful. Clinical trials are taking place in Rwanda, and vaccine candidates from institutions like the Sabin Vaccine Institute and Oxford University are in development. Experts urge global cooperation and funding to prevent the virus from spreading beyond Rwanda's borders, emphasizing that proactive measures are crucial.
