Marburg virus outbreak kills six, infects 20 others in Rwanda

Rwanda is grappling with an outbreak of Marburg virus, which has claimed six lives and infected 20 people, the country’s Health Minister, Sabin Nsanzimana, confirmed on Saturday.

The majority of the victims are healthcare workers in intensive care units.

Nsanzimana made the announcement in a video statement shared on X (formerly Twitter).

“We are dealing with 20 confirmed infections, and sadly, six individuals have already passed away, most of them healthcare workers in ICUs," Nsanzimana said.

The Marburg virus, a highly contagious and often deadly hemorrhagic fever, belongs to the same virus family as Ebola. Symptoms include severe headache, vomiting, muscle aches, and abdominal pain.

The virus has a fatality rate of up to 88% and is transmitted from fruit bats to humans, spreading through contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals.

Efforts to contain the outbreak are in full swing, with Rwandan health officials tracing and monitoring 161 people who may have been exposed.

So far, 20 cases are in isolation and receiving treatment.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has stepped in to provide critical resources and expertise.

“We are rapidly putting all necessary outbreak response measures in place to help Rwanda contain the virus quickly and effectively,” said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

The WHO is also coordinating cross-border readiness efforts with neighboring countries to prevent the virus from spreading further.

Rwanda’s outbreak follows similar cases in neighboring countries. Tanzania experienced a Marburg outbreak in 2023, and Uganda faced a similar situation in 2017.

Past outbreaks of Marburg virus have been recorded in Angola (2004-2005), the Democratic Republic of Congo (1998-2000), and Kenya (1980), with varying degrees of severity and mortality.

There is currently no licensed vaccine or treatment for Marburg virus, although several candidates are in clinical trials.

WHO is working with global health experts to accelerate the development of vaccines and therapeutics for the virus.

Previously, mpox vaccines were administered in Africa for the first time, with several hundred high-risk individuals vaccinated in Rwanda, as stated by the African Union's disease control centre.

In the meantime, Rwanda's government is reinforcing its public health systems to curb the outbreak and prevent further fatalities.

As the country navigates this crisis, authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and adhere to preventive measures to stop the spread of the virus.