30 Sep 2024 | 02:40 PM UTC
Rwanda: Authorities confirm Marburg virus cases in multiple areas in September
Authorities confirm Marburg virus activity in multiple areas in Rwanda in September. Use basic health precautions.
Rwandan health authorities have reported elevated Marburg virus activity, with 26 confirmed cases and eight associated deaths reported as of Sept. 28. This is the first outbreak in the country. Seven of the country's 30 districts are affected. Of the confirmed cases, 20 are being isolated and receiving treatment. Health officials are monitoring 161 identified contacts with confirmed cases. Investigation into the source of infection is still ongoing. In response to the outbreak, health authorities are employing measures that include sending medical supplies to Kigali, enhancing cross-border efforts to prevent virus spread, conducting contact tracing, isolating cases, and providing medical care to symptomatic individuals. This represents the most complete data available as of Sept. 30.
Observe strict health precautions, including frequent handwashing with soap and water or hand sanitizer. Avoid visiting any locations that require prolonged exposure to mines or caves that may be inhabited by fruit bats. Avoid contact with animals and items that may have come in contact with an infected person's blood or bodily fluids.
Marburg virus disease is a highly virulent disease that is transmitted through close personal contact and exposure to excretions and bodily fluids from infected patients, particularly blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected people. Infection can also result from prolonged exposure to mines or caves inhabited by fruit bat colonies. Symptoms typically appear 2-21 days after exposure and include severe headache, muscle aches and pains, diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping, nausea, and vomiting. Many patients develop severe hemorrhagic manifestations (like bloody stool and bleeding from the nose and gums) 5-7 days after the onset of symptoms. In fatal cases, death occurs most often between 8 and 9 days after symptom onset, usually preceded by severe blood loss and shock.
Severe cases will need to be hospitalized and placed under intensive care to receive frequent intravenous fluids or oral rehydration solutions containing electrolytes.
There is currently no Marburg virus vaccine available, however, vaccine candidates are being tested but are likely to only become available in many years to come.
