Rwanda Faces First Marburg Virus Outbreak

Rwanda is facing its first-ever outbreak of the Marburg virus, a deadly hemorrhagic fever similar to Ebola, declared on September 27, with a fatality rate up to 88%. The outbreak has resulted in eight confirmed deaths and 26 cases, primarily affecting healthcare workers across several districts. Vaccines developed by the Sabin Vaccine Institute are being rushed to Rwanda for a ring vaccination strategy targeting healthcare workers, as part of an ongoing clinical trial. The World Health Organization advises against travel to Rwanda and is collaborating with Rwandan authorities to curb the spread by intensifying contact tracing and testing. Despite the absence of approved vaccines or treatments, some patients have shown improvement, and health officials are working to identify the outbreak's source, presumed to originate from fruit bats. Rwanda's health system is reportedly well-prepared to manage the outbreak, although public health measures like avoiding physical contact are being emphasized.