Marburg virus: Rwanda faces first deadly epidemic

CNN
—

For the first time in Rwanda’s history, the Ministry of Health is facing an outbreak of Marburg virus disease, a rare but deadly hemorrhagic disease similar to Ebola – but unlike Ebola, there is no treatment or vaccine against Marburg, and it has a high mortality rate. by 88%.

So far, 26 people have fallen ill, 18 are under treatment and eight people have died in the outbreak, according to the Health Ministry.

In addition to sending medical supplies, the World Health Organization announced over the weekend that it is deploying a team of seven global bleeding disease experts to Rwanda, who will be able to provide advice to public health experts on the ground. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday it will also send experts to Rwanda to help support testing and contact tracing efforts.

There are no cases of Marburg in the United States and the risk to Americans affected by this outbreak is low.

The CDC said it has been present in Rwanda since 2002 and worked closely to help the country strengthen its health system.

Unlike other countries in sub-Saharan Africa that have faced Marburg virus disease, Rwanda has a strong public health system, according to the WHO.

“With the country’s already strong public health emergency response system, WHO is working closely with national authorities to provide the necessary support to further strengthen ongoing efforts,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, Director WHO regional office for Africa.

Dr Brian Chirombo, WHO representative to Rwanda, said on Sunday he believed the country had “the capacity and ability to stop this outbreak very quickly”.

Rwanda’s health ministry said on Sunday that people are allowed to continue their daily activities, and the government encourages people not to panic, as authorities believe they have identified all outbreaks of the disease and are taking appropriate measures to prevent its propagation.

The virus has spread to seven of the country’s 30 districts. More than 100 people who have been in contact with infected people are either being monitored or isolated, the ministry said. Many of those who have fallen ill are health workers.

Marburg is an orthomarburgvirus, a virus that occurs naturally in fruit bats. It belongs to the same family as the Ebola virus.

Marburg can spread from human to human when a person comes into contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person. People can also get sick after handling a patient’s clothing or bedding.

It’s not an airborne virus like the coronavirus that causes Covid-19, which makes it a little easier to control, experts say.

It can take up to three weeks for symptoms to appear after a person is exposed to the virus.

The illness usually begins with a rash and fever. People may vomit and have severe headaches and muscle aches. In severe cases, infected people may bleed from the nose, gums and eyes, and internal bleeding manifests as blood in vomit, urine and stool. Significant blood loss can cause shock and death.

Scientists are working to develop vaccines and treatments, but currently supportive care consists of rest and fluids.