Rwandan health officials have launched a crucial vaccine study to combat Marburg hemorrhagic fever as the nation battles an outbreak that has claimed 12 lives.
The country’s Health Minister, Sabin Nsanzimana, addressed the media on Sunday, October 6 stating that the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) had completed an assessment of the vaccine doses. “The shipment has been thoroughly reviewed,” Nsanzimana reported.
The vaccine, still in the trial phase, arrived in Rwanda on Saturday and was shipped by the US-based Sabin Vaccine Institute. Rwanda’s Health Ministry confirmed that the primary recipients will be healthcare workers, emergency responders, and individuals who have had direct contact with confirmed cases.
Vaccine Trial Targets Healthcare Workers
Marburg fever, similar to Ebola in both transmission and severity, has no licensed treatment or vaccine at this time. The virus, thought to originate from fruit bats, spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals or contaminated surfaces, such as bed linens. Without proper medical intervention, Marburg can have a fatality rate of up to 88%.
In partnership with Rwanda, the Sabin Vaccine Institute said it had “entered into a clinical trial agreement with the Rwanda Biomedical Centre, the trial sponsor, to provide investigational doses.” This clinical trial marks a significant step forward as health experts race to control the outbreak.
So far, Rwanda has confirmed 46 cases of Marburg, 29 of which are currently isolated. Health authorities have identified more than 400 individuals who came into contact with those infected. The outbreak was first declared on September 27, and six deaths were reported just one day later. The source of the outbreak has not yet been determined.
Symptoms of Marburg include fever, muscle pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, and, in severe cases, death caused by extreme blood loss. The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that a majority of the sick individuals in Rwanda are healthcare workers. Six of the country’s 30 districts have been affected, and many of the patients are from areas bordering Congo, Burundi, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Stricter Measures Implemented to Prevent Spread
In response to the outbreak, Rwandan authorities have implemented a series of public health measures to slow the virus’s spread. Citizens have been asked to minimize physical contact and avoid gatherings.
School and hospital visits have been suspended, and strict limits have been placed on funeral attendance for victims of Marburg. Furthermore, in cases of deaths linked to the virus, home vigils have been banned.
The US Embassy in Kigali has also issued guidance, urging its staff to work remotely and avoid in-person office visits for the time being.
Although this is Rwanda’s first encounter with the virus, Marburg outbreaks have been reported in other African countries in the past. According to WHO, previous outbreaks have occurred in Tanzania, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Congo, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, and Ghana.
The Marburg virus was first identified in 1967, following simultaneous outbreaks in laboratories in Marburg, Germany, and Belgrade, Serbia. During that incident, seven researchers died after coming into contact with infected monkeys while conducting experiments.
As Rwanda moves forward with the vaccine trial, global health experts will be watching closely, hoping that these efforts can contain the outbreak and eventually lead to a breakthrough in combating this deadly disease.
READ ALSO: US-based Engineer Exposes Global Impacts of Galamsey
