Rwanda reported its first outbreak of Marburg virus disease The risk of global transmission is currently low

A colored scanning electron microscope image of Marburg virus particles (blue)

Overview of the outbreak

The current cases are mainly concentrated in two health facilities in Kigali, and more than 70% of the confirmed patients are healthcare workers.

September 26th. Preliminary test results showed that blood samples from the Rwanda Biomedical Centre were positive. On 27 September, Rwanda's Ministry of Health announced confirmation of Marburg virus disease infection in patients in the country's health facilities.

As of 29 September, 300 close contacts have been traced. One of the contacts, who travelled from Rwanda to Belgium, has completed 21 days of health surveillance and is asymptomatic and does not pose a public health risk.

Epidemiology of Marburg virus disease

Marburg virus disease is a highly fatal disease with clinical symptoms similar to those of Ebola haemorrhagic fever. Marburg virus and Ebola virus belong to the same virion family. The virus is transmitted from fruit bats to humans, through broken skin or mucous membranes, through direct contact with the body fluids of an infected person, or through direct contact with surfaces and materials that have been contaminated with these body fluids, such as bed sheets, bedding and clothing.

The illness caused by the Marburg virus has an acute onset and is accompanied by high fever, severe headache, and severe malaise. Severe bleeding manifestations may occur within 5 to 7 days of symptom onset, but not all cases have signs of bleeding.

Since the Marburg virus was first identified in 1967, no vaccine or effective treatment has been approved for use, but some immunotherapies and drugs are in development.

Public health response

WHO is assisting in transporting samples to regional reference laboratories for confirmation, as well as providing supplies such as laboratory test kits and personal protective equipment.

WHO and its partners are also working closely with the Government of Rwanda to provide information and access to available Marburg virus vaccine candidates and treatments for possible clinical trials.

In addition, WHO and neighbouring countries in Rwanda, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, are reviewing their operational readiness to respond to the Marburg virus. At the same time, preparations are underway in unaffected areas of Rwanda to mitigate the risk of virus transmission.

Raising community awareness of risk factors for Marburg infection and individual protective measures to reduce human exposure to the virus are key to reducing human infection and death, WHO notes.