09 Oct 2024 | 10:40 AM UTC
Rwanda: Authorities confirm Marburg virus cases in multiple areas in early October /update 1
Authorities confirm Marburg virus activity in multiple areas in Rwanda in early October. Use basic health precautions.
Rwandan health authorities continue to report elevated Marburg virus activity in multiple districts, with an additional 31 cases reported Sept. 30-Oct. 7, bringing the total to 58 confirmed cases since Sept. 27. This is the first outbreak in the country. Of the confirmed cases, 33 are being isolated and receiving treatment. Districts reporting disease activity include Gasabo, Gatsibo, Kamonyi, Kicukiro, Nyagatare, Nyarugenge, and Rubavu. Rwandan health authorities are mobilizing efforts to contain the outbreak, including vaccinating frontline healthcare workers, strengthening disease surveillance and contact tracing, investigating transmission sources, and educating the public about the disease. This represents the most complete data available as of Oct. 9.
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 vaccine available for the Marburg virus, but vaccine candidates are under testing and may become available in the future.
