In response to the Marburg hemorrhagic fever outbreak that has claimed the lives of 12 individuals, Rwandan health authorities have initiated a vaccine study. The country received 700 doses of an experimental vaccine from the Sabin Vaccine Institute in the United States. The vaccination campaign will target health workers, emergency responders, and individuals who have been in contact with confirmed cases, as announced by the Health Ministry.
Marburg, a virus similar to Ebola, is believed to originate from fruit bats and spreads through close contact with infected individuals or contaminated surfaces. With no authorized vaccine or treatment available, the disease can be fatal in up to 88% of cases.
The Rwanda Biomedical Centre reviewed the vaccine shipment, and the Sabin Vaccine Institute has entered into a clinical trial agreement with the Rwanda Biomedical Centre to provide investigational doses for the study. Currently, there are 46 confirmed cases of Marburg in Rwanda, with 29 individuals in isolation and approximately 400 contacts identified by health authorities.
Symptoms of Marburg include fever, muscle pains, diarrhea, vomiting, and severe blood loss leading to death in some cases. Most of the affected individuals in Rwanda are health workers from six districts, with some cases reported in regions bordering Congo, Burundi, Uganda, and Tanzania.
To prevent further spread of the virus, Rwandans are advised to avoid physical contact. The government has implemented strict measures such as suspending school and hospital visits, limiting funeral attendees for Marburg victims, and prohibiting home vigils in case of Marburg-related deaths.
Marburg outbreaks have been recorded in several African countries in the past, with the virus first identified in 1967 during simultaneous outbreaks in Marburg, Germany, and Belgrade, Serbia. The U.S. Embassy in Kigali has instructed its staff to work remotely and avoid office visits to minimize the risk of exposure.
