US delivers Marburg vaccines to Rwanda amid outbreak

The United States shipped an initial batch of vaccines and therapeutic drugs to Rwanda on October 4, 2024, in response to the country's first Marburg virus outbreak, which has so far claimed 11 lives.

The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is collaborating with Rwanda's health ministry and international partners to begin clinical trials of the investigational vaccines, targeting frontline healthcare workers.

The outbreak, which started in late September, has resulted in 36 confirmed cases.

Marburg, a viral hemorrhagic fever similar to Ebola, has a fatality rate of up to 88%, making rapid response critical.

Rwanda’s Health Minister, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, confirmed that trials would begin soon, starting with the 700 vaccine doses delivered by the Sabin Vaccine Institute, which developed the vaccine in partnership with Italy-based ReiThera.

In addition to vaccines, the pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences has donated 5,000 vials of the antiviral drug remdesivir to support Rwanda’s emergency response.

While no licensed treatments or vaccines for Marburg exist, the trials will provide vital data on the effectiveness of these experimental countermeasures.

Marburg virus spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids and is transmitted to humans by fruit bats. Symptoms include high fever, nausea, vomiting, and hemorrhaging, typically developing within a week of infection.

As of now, the majority of cases in Rwanda have been among healthcare workers in Kigali, but authorities are racing to contain the virus before it spreads further.

This outbreak comes after recent Marburg virus incidents in Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea, signaling a growing regional threat.

Rwanda is taking swift action to prevent a larger health crisis, with support from global health organizations and vaccine developers.

Rwanda, a country with a growing healthcare infrastructure, has been proactive in responding to public health challenges. Its efforts have gained international recognition, especially in managing infectious diseases like HIV, mpox and malaria.

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

The first 300 doses were administerednear the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, a spokesperson for the AU's Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) told AFP.

The DRC has been the worst-affected country, with nearly 22,000 cases and more than 700 deaths linked to the virus between January and August.

However, this Marburg outbreak poses a significant test, requiring coordinated action from global health organizations to prevent a wider disaster.

Marburg outbreaks, although rare, have increased in frequency across Africa in recent years.

The virus belongs to the same family as Ebola and can cause severe outbreaks with high fatality rates, particularly in regions with limited healthcare resources.

Rapid vaccination campaigns and trial treatments are essential to controlling such diseases, especially in the absence of licensed vaccines.