Rwanda Declares First Marburg Virus Outbreak; 29 Cases, 10 Deaths of Ebola-like Hemorrhagic Fever

Oct 2, 2024, 11:58 AM

Rwanda has declared its first outbreak of the Marburg virus, marking the first occurrence of the deadly hemorrhagic fever in the country. This event comes closely on the heels of initial outbreaks in 2023 in Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea. The Marburg virus comes from the same family of viruses as Ebola and originates from fruit bats. It spreads between humans through close contact with bodily fluids. Without treatment, the virus can be fatal in up to 88% of cases, and currently, there are no authorized vaccines or treatments available. The outbreak, which began in September 2024, has so far resulted in 29 cases and 10 deaths, according to the Rwandan Ministry of Health. Researchers are urgently working to deploy vaccines and treatments against the outbreak. The source of the virus in Rwanda remains unknown. While there are reports of suspected cases in Germany, health officials are investigating these and have not confirmed any spread beyond Rwanda.