The Ministry of Health in Rwanda (MINISANTE) has announced that it has identified nearly 300 people who have come into contact with patients suffering from the Marburg virus, which was recently detected in Rwanda. However, this number could increase as the search for additional contacts continues.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, made this announcement during a press conference on Sunday, September 29, 2024, stating that the current number of confirmed cases remains at 20, with six fatalities reported as of today.
He said, “We have many contacts of the patients, nearly 300, and this number may increase. You may have interacted with them, greeted them, or lived in the same house. We have not yet finished determining where this outbreak originated from. The priority now is to identify its reach and stop its spread.”
The Minister further explained that the contacts are being closely monitored and tested multiple times, with some being relocated for quicker testing and investigation. This is necessary because the virus manifests between 2-21 days after contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids.
The Marburg virus has a high fatality rate, ranging from 25%-90%, depending on how quickly the patient receives medical attention and various treatments. However, no specific cure for the virus has been found yet.
Transmission occurs through contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person. It is not airborne. Symptoms include headaches, fever, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Dr. Nsanzimana clarified that it is not yet time to implement extraordinary measures, urging the public to stay calm and continue their daily activities as usual. He assured that efforts are being made swiftly to prevent the spread of the virus.
He also mentioned that daily updates will be provided on the progress made in containing the Marburg outbreak, though the source of the virus and the time the first case in Rwanda occurred are still unknown.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reassured Rwanda that it has the necessary tools to stop the Marburg virus quickly, based on its previous experiences in other countries where the disease has been reported.
