Marburg Outbreak: One of the World’s Deadliest Viruses Strikes Rwanda

The Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda, which began in late September 2024, has rapidly become a significant public health crisis. Rwanda’s Ministry of Health confirmed 36 cases, with 11 fatalities so far, and the virus has affected healthcare workers, posing challenges for medical facilities. Marburg virus disease (MVD), a highly contagious and deadly illness, is part of the same family of viruses as Ebola. Symptoms begin abruptly, including high fever and severe headache, and may progress to severe hemorrhagic manifestations, leading to death in many cases between eight and nine days after symptoms appear. The fatality rate can range from 24% to as high as 88%, depending on outbreak conditions and treatment availability.

The current outbreak in Rwanda is the country’s first, and efforts to control the spread include isolation of patients, contact tracing, public health awareness campaigns, and preventive measures at healthcare facilities. WHO and other international organizations are supporting Rwanda with infection control and preparing for potential vaccine trials. No licensed vaccine or specific treatment for Marburg virus currently exists, but candidate vaccines are under development, with production recently initiated in response to this outbreak.

Concerns have arisen over the risk of the virus spreading beyond Rwanda’s borders, given its proximity to countries like Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the involvement of districts with international transport connections. The public health response has focused on rapid case detection, supportive care for patients, and vaccination trials, which are being prepared for healthcare workers at the forefront of this outbreak. The effectiveness of these responses and international collaboration will be crucial in containing the spread of this virus and preventing a wider crisis.

Healthcare authorities in Rwanda, supported by WHO, have prioritized community engagement and the implementation of rigorous infection prevention measures to limit further transmission, particularly in high-risk environments like hospitals. The health ministry has also established hotlines for reporting symptoms to expedite early intervention efforts. However, given the scale and the location of the outbreak, the risk of international spread remains a concern, especially to neighboring countries with direct travel routes to Rwanda.

The WHO has classified the risk as very high at the national level and high at the regional level, while maintaining a low risk globally. Efforts to assess and enhance readiness in unaffected regions of Rwanda and neighboring countries are ongoing, with steps being taken to ensure quick identification and containment of any spillover cases (Sources: WHO, Nature).