An outbreak of Marburg fever in Rwanda has been declared under control, with 13 reported deaths since the outbreak was announced on September 27. The disease, similar to Ebola, has no authorized vaccine or treatment, but Rwanda has received 700 doses of a trial vaccine from the Sabin Vaccine Institute to protect health workers, emergency responders, and individuals in contact with confirmed cases.
The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has commended Rwanda for its strong response to the outbreak, stating that the risk of Marburg spreading beyond the country is minimal. Health officials have been closely monitoring contacts of confirmed cases to prevent further transmission.
Despite the outbreak, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its travel advisory for Rwanda, recommending screening for travelers who have recently visited the country and urging reconsideration of non-essential travel. However, the Africa CDC and Rwandan officials were not consulted before this decision was made.
Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana reported a total of 58 confirmed Marburg cases in Rwanda, with 12 recoveries and over 200 people vaccinated since the arrival of the trial vaccines. The virus, believed to originate in fruit bats, spreads through close contact with infected individuals or contaminated surfaces.
Preventive measures in Rwanda include avoiding physical contact, suspending school and hospital visits, and restricting funeral attendance for Marburg victims. Home vigils are banned in cases linked to Marburg-related deaths, and the U.S. Embassy in Kigali has advised staff to work remotely and avoid office visits.
Marburg outbreaks have been recorded in several African countries in the past, with the virus first identified in 1967 after causing fatalities in research laboratories in Germany and Serbia. The current outbreak in Rwanda primarily affects health workers in districts bordering Congo, Burundi, Uganda, and Tanzania.
