Rwanda’s outbreak of Marburg fever, a deadly virus similar to Ebola, is now under control, according to the head of Africa’s leading public health agency.
Despite 13 deaths reported since the outbreak began on September 27, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) insists that travel bans targeting the East African nation are unnecessary.
“There is no need for travel restrictions,” said Jean Kaseya, director of the Africa CDC. He emphasized that the risk of Marburg spreading beyond Rwanda is minimal and praised the country’s swift and effective response to the crisis.
“The mechanism they put in place even to follow the contacts, no contact can fly out of Rwanda,” Kaseya noted, commending the government for its daily monitoring of all individuals who have been in contact with confirmed cases.
Rwanda’s Measures Gain Global Attention
So far, Rwanda has reported a total of 58 confirmed Marburg cases, with 12 individuals recovering from the illness. Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana confirmed that more than 200 people have been vaccinated since the country received 700 doses of a trial vaccine from the US-based Sabin Vaccine Institute.
The vaccine is being administered to health workers, emergency responders, and those who have been in contact with confirmed cases.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its travel advisory for Rwanda earlier this week, urging individuals to reconsider non-essential travel to the country and requiring additional screening for travelers who have recently been in Rwanda.
This move has sparked controversy, as it was made without consulting Rwanda or the Africa CDC.
Kaseya criticized the US decision, stating that Rwanda should not be penalized for being transparent about the outbreak. “Rwanda should not ‘be punished’ with advisories prohibiting travel because it is ‘being transparent’ in its reporting of the outbreak,” he argued.
Health Minister Nsanzimana echoed Kaseya’s sentiments, saying the advisory was “not the best thing to do” given Rwanda’s efforts to contain the virus.
Strict Measures to Prevent Spread
Marburg fever, like Ebola, is believed to originate in fruit bats and spreads through contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals. The virus can also spread via contaminated surfaces, such as bed linens.
Without treatment, Marburg can be fatal in up to 88% of cases, with symptoms ranging from fever, muscle pains, and vomiting to extreme blood loss. In severe cases, death can occur due to massive hemorrhaging.
Rwanda has implemented strict measures to curb the virus’s spread. Citizens are urged to avoid physical contact, school, and hospital visits have been temporarily suspended, and funeral attendance for Marburg victims has been limited. The government has also banned home vigils for individuals who die from the virus.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), most of the cases in Rwanda have been concentrated in six districts, including those bordering neighboring countries such as Congo, Burundi, Uganda, and Tanzania. Health workers are at the highest risk and make up most of the sick.
The US Embassy in Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, has advised its staff to work remotely and avoid public offices in response to the outbreak.
The Marburg virus was first identified in 1967 after outbreaks occurred simultaneously in laboratories in Marburg, Germany, and Belgrade, Serbia. The outbreaks were linked to research involving infected monkeys, leading to the death of seven researchers.
Since then, Marburg outbreaks have been recorded sporadically across Africa, with cases reported in countries like Tanzania, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Congo, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, and Ghana.
Although no approved vaccine or treatment for Marburg exists, Rwanda’s swift action and vaccine trials provide hope for containment and future preparedness.
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