A Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda has killed 11 people. Health officials are investigating its source. The virus, with a fatality rate of up to 88%, resembles Ebola. Rwanda has confirmed 36 cases so far. Twenty-five patients are currently in isolation.
Rwanda has launched a vaccination campaign against the virus. Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana announced the immediate start of vaccinations. The campaign focuses on healthcare workers and close contacts of confirmed cases. The country received vaccines, including those from the Sabin Vaccine Institute.
Authorities are also intensifying efforts to trace and monitor contacts of infected individuals. This step aims to prevent further spread and protect communities at risk.
This outbreak marks Rwanda’s first encounter with the Marburg virus, detected in late September. The virus has caused 46 cases and 12 deaths to date. Early symptoms include high fever, severe headaches, and weakness. Later, it leads to nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Rwanda’s health officials are taking swift action to contain the outbreak.
World Health Organization (WHO) has recorded Marburg virus outbreaks cases in various countries, including , South Africa,Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Congo, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and Ghana. The virus was first discovered in 1967 after causing several outbreaks in research labs in Marburg, Germany, and Belgrade, Serbia, resulting in seven deaths among scientists exposed to infected monkeys.
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