Marburg Virus Outbreak in Rwanda: 29 Cases and 10 Deaths Reported

As of today, Rwanda’s health ministry has reported a total of 29 confirmed cases of Marburg virus, with 10 fatalities. This marks an increase of three cases and four deaths since the outbreak was announced last Friday.

In response to the escalating situation, the Rwandan Ministry of Education has suspended visits to boarding schools to prevent the virus from spreading among students. Earlier, the health ministry had also prohibited hospital visits and restricted funerals for those suspected of dying from Marburg, limiting attendance to 50 people and banning home vigils and open caskets.

Approximately 70% of the infected individuals are health workers from two facilities in Kigali, with 19 patients currently isolated in hospitals. Cases have also been reported in three districts bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Tanzania, raising concerns that the virus may spread to these neighboring countries, which have less robust health systems.

Contrary to alarming reports, there is no evidence that Marburg has spread to Belgium. The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that while one contact from Rwanda traveled to Belgium, they remained healthy and completed the necessary 21-day monitoring period without showing any symptoms.

Currently, there is no vaccine or proven treatment for Marburg, which is a zoonotic disease related to the Ebola virus, with a mortality rate ranging from 20% to 90%, according to the U.S. CDC. However, promising medical countermeasures are under clinical development. The Sabin Vaccine Institute’s candidate vaccine is currently undergoing Phase II trials.

The Marburg virus was first identified in Marburg, Germany, in 1967, following contact with infected monkeys. Egyptian fruit bats have been identified as the primary reservoirs for the virus. Infection can occur through contact with infected bats, their urine or feces, or through contact with primates. A 2021 study indicated that fruit bitten or contaminated by bats could also pose a risk of transmission to humans.

Rwanda’s Ministry of Health has urged the public to remain vigilant, emphasizing the importance of hygiene practices such as handwashing and sanitizing. Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana has called for calm, assuring the public that measures are in place to identify and address hot spots. He urged anyone experiencing symptoms to seek immediate medical assistance or contact health authorities.