Rwanda Reports 8 Deaths Linked to Ebola-Like Marburg Virus
Outbreak Declared, Public Urged to Avoid Physical Contact
Rwanda has reported eight deaths from the Ebola-like and highly contagious Marburg virus, just days after the country declared an outbreak of the deadly hemorrhagic fever. Like Ebola, the Marburg virus originates in fruit bats and spreads between people through close contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals or with surfaces, such as contaminated bed sheets. Without treatment, Marburg can be fatal in up to 88% of people who fall ill with the disease.
Confirmed Cases and Deaths
Rwanda declared an outbreak on Friday and reported the first six deaths a day later. So far, 26 cases have been confirmed, and eight of the sickened people have died, according to Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana. Most of the affected are healthcare workers across six out of 30 districts in the country.
Prevention Measures
The public has been urged to avoid physical contact to help curb the spread. Some 300 people who came into contact with those confirmed to have the virus have also been identified, and an unspecified number of them have been put in isolation facilities.
Source of the Disease Unknown
The minister said the source of the disease has not been determined yet. A person infected with the virus can take between three days and three weeks to show symptoms, he added. Symptoms include fever, muscle pains, diarrhea, vomiting, and, in some cases, death through extreme blood loss.
International Support
The World Health Organization was scaling up its support and will work with Rwandan authorities to help stop the spread, WHO’s Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Saturday. The U.S Embassy in Rwanda’s capital of Kigali has urged its staff to work remotely and avoid visiting offices.
Global Context
Marburg outbreaks and individual cases have in the past been recorded in Tanzania, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Congo, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, and Ghana, according to the WHO. The World Health Organization declared a public health emergency of international concern over a spreading outbreak of mpox first seen in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Additional Context
The rare virus was first identified in 1967 after it caused simultaneous outbreaks of disease in laboratories in Marburg, Germany, and Belgrade, Serbia. Seven people died who were exposed to the virus while conducting research on monkeys. Separately, Rwanda has so far reported six cases of mpox, a disease caused by a virus related to smallpox but that typically causes milder symptoms.
Conclusion
The outbreak of Marburg virus in Rwanda is a serious concern, and prompt action is needed to contain its spread. The Rwandan government, with the support of international organizations, is working to identify the source of the disease, trace contacts, and provide care to those affected.
FAQs
* What is Marburg virus?
+ Marburg virus is a rare and highly contagious disease that causes hemorrhagic fever.
* How does Marburg virus spread?
+ Marburg virus spreads through close contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals or with surfaces, such as contaminated bed sheets.
* What are the symptoms of Marburg virus?
+ Symptoms include fever, muscle pains, diarrhea, vomiting, and, in some cases, death through extreme blood loss.
* Can Marburg virus be treated?
+ There is no authorized vaccine or treatment for Marburg virus.
* How many cases of Marburg virus have been reported in Rwanda?
+ So far, 26 cases have been confirmed, and eight of the sickened people have died.
