Travel warning as eight die from incurable Marburg virus
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A travel alert has been announced due to an outbreak of a highly infectious virus that is akin to Ebola.
Rwanda has reported that eight individuals have lost their lives due to the Marburg virus. This news comes just days after the nation announced an outbreak of this serious hemorrhagic fever, for which there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments available.
To date, there have been 26 confirmed cases.
According to the latest risk evaluation, the World Health Organization recommends not imposing any travel or trade bans involving Rwanda.
Similar to Ebola, the Marburg virus comes from fruit bats and can be transmitted among people via direct contact with the bodily fluids of those who are infected or through contact with contaminated objects, like soiled bed linens. If left untreated, Marburg can be deadly for as many as 88% of those who contract the illness.
Rwanda, a landlocked nation in Central Africa, announced an outbreak on Friday, and the following day, the first six fatalities were confirmed.
Authorities have advised the public to refrain from physical interactions to help limit the virus's transmission. Approximately 300 individuals who were in close contact with confirmed cases have been located, and a certain number of them have been placed in quarantine centers.
The majority of those impacted are healthcare professionals in six of the country's thirty districts.
"Marburg is an uncommon illness," Nsanzimana explained to reporters. "We are ramping up our efforts in contact tracing and testing to help prevent it from spreading."
A representative from the World Health Organization emphasized the significance of individuals displaying symptoms similar to Marburg to seek medical attention promptly. Early supportive treatment can enhance the chances of survival. The WHO evaluates the risk associated with this outbreak as very high within the country, high regionally, and low on a global scale.
The minister mentioned that the cause of the illness is still unknown. He also noted that it can take anywhere from three days to three weeks for someone infected with the virus to start showing symptoms.
Symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, diarrhea, vomiting, and in severe instances, death due to significant blood loss.
On Saturday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced on X that the World Health Organization is increasing its assistance and collaborating with Rwandan officials to help curb the outbreak.
The U.S. Embassy in Kigali, Rwanda, has advised its employees to work from home and stay away from the office.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Marburg outbreaks and isolated cases have previously been documented in several countries, including Tanzania, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Congo, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, and Ghana.
The unusual virus was initially discovered in 1967 when it triggered simultaneous disease outbreaks in labs located in Marburg, Germany, and Belgrade, Serbia. Seven individuals who came into contact with the virus during monkey research lost their lives.
On its own, Rwanda has reported a total of six cases of mpox, a viral illness linked to smallpox that generally leads to less severe symptoms. Initially referred to as monkeypox due to its identification in laboratory monkeys, mpox has also impacted various other African nations, prompting the World Health Organization to classify it as a global health emergency.
Earlier this month, Rwanda kicked off a campaign to vaccinate against mpox, and additional vaccine supplies are anticipated to reach the nation soon. Meanwhile, the nearby Democratic Republic of Congo has reported the highest number of mpox cases, marking it as the center of this public health crisis.
