Rwanda Faces Marburg Virus Outbreak: Symptoms and Prevention

World Health Organisation and the Marburg Virus Outbreak

Rwanda is currently in the throes of its inaugural outbreak of the lethal Marburg virus, with a total of 36 reported cases and 11 fatalities thus far. The World Health Organisation has classified the risk posed by the outbreak as extremely high within Rwanda, high across the African continent, and low on a global scale.

What is the Marburg Virus?

Marburg is a virus that belongs to the same family as Ebola. According to the WHO, it causes haemorrhagic fever with an average fatality rate of 50%, though it can surge as high as 88% in previous outbreaks. The UN health agency states that timely clinical care and rehydration can significantly improve survival rates.

History and Spread of the Marburg Virus

The virus was first identified in Marburg, Germany, and Belgrade, Serbia, in 1967 after lab work with African green monkeys from Uganda resulted in human infections. Subsequent outbreaks have occurred in countries like Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda, as reported by the WHO.

Transmission Mechanisms

Marburg virus transmission to humans occurs through close contact with caves or mines inhabited by Rousettus fruit bats. There is also potential for human-to-human transmission through direct exposure to bodily fluids of infected individuals or contaminated surfaces.

Vaccine and Treatment Developments

Currently, no approved vaccines or treatments for Marburg exist. However, Rwanda's health minister has indicated that several promising vaccine candidates, developed by organizations like the Sabin Vaccine Institute and the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), may soon enter trial phases.