Official announcements from the Rwandan Ministry of Health or WHO identifying the source

Rwanda Battles First Marburg Virus Outbreak, 10 Dead and 29 Infected

Oct 2, 2024, 02:10 PM

Rwanda is currently battling an outbreak of the Marburg virus, a deadly hemorrhagic fever with a fatality rate of up to 88%. The outbreak, which has already claimed 10 lives and infected 29 people, is the largest Marburg outbreak recorded in the country. The initial cluster is suspected to involve medics treating a patient. In response, Rwanda has restricted funeral crowds to no more than 50 people and banned hospital visits. The World Health Organization (WHO) has assessed the risk of regional spread as high, but the global spread remains low. Neighboring Uganda is on high alert, and Germany is investigating two suspected cases involving individuals who traveled from Rwanda. The source of the outbreak remains unknown. The Marburg virus, detected for the first time in Rwanda, originates in fruit bats and spreads through close contact with bodily fluids. Efforts to contain the virus include strong infection prevention measures and the deployment of clinical care kits by WHO and USAID.