Rwanda restricts funeral attendance as Ebola-like Marburg Virus kills 8

In response to the rising number of deaths from the Marburg virus, Rwandan authorities have placed strict limits on funeral sizes, capping attendance at 50 people for victims of the disease.

This measure comes as eight people have already died in the country’s first confirmed outbreak, announced by the health ministry last Friday.

Marburg, a highly contagious disease from the same virus family as Ebola, has a fatality rate of up to 88%.

It spreads from fruit bats to humans and through contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals.

The health ministry also introduced new guidelines aimed at halting the virus’s spread, including a ban on hospital visitors for the next 14 days and limiting patients to one caregiver at a time.

“Normal business and other activities” can continue, but the ministry urged the public to avoid close contact with “symptomatic individuals” and to practice good hygiene like frequent hand washing.

Symptoms of Marburg include fever, headaches, muscle aches, vomiting, diarrhoea, and in severe cases, extreme blood loss, which can lead to death. Most cases have been reported in Kigali, the capital.

Rwanda’s health minister revealed that six victims were healthcare workers in a hospital’s intensive care unit.

Contact tracing and surveillance have intensified, with officials tracking approximately 300 people who had contact with infected individuals.

The health ministry also reminded the public of the importance of practising good hygiene to contain the outbreak.

Neighbouring Tanzania had reported an outbreak in 2023, and Uganda recorded three deaths from the virus in 2017.

Meanwhile, it was reported on Sunday that six people had lost their lives to the highly contagious virus in Rwanda.

Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana revealed that most of the victims were healthcare workers in the intensive care unit, highlighting the risks faced by those on the frontlines of combating the outbreak.

Marburg virus:

Marburg virus is a highly contagious and deadly viral hemorrhagic fever, similar to Ebola.

It’s named after the city of Marburg, Germany, where the first outbreak occurred in 1967.

The virus is transmitted through contact with infected bodily fluids, direct contact with infected animals, and contaminated surfaces and equipment.

Symptoms include sudden onset of fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and bleeding or bruising.

Outbreaks have occurred sporadically since 1967, with significant cases reported in Angola (2005), Uganda (2007), and Democratic Republic of Congo (1998-2000).

The virus has a high mortality rate, ranging from 23% to 88% depending on the outbreak. Experimental vaccines and treatments are available, but no licensed vaccine or cure exists.

Prevention relies on personal protective equipment, isolation, and quarantine.

Global response efforts are led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Challenges include limited understanding of virus transmission, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, difficulty in contact tracing, and stigma and community resistance.

Experimental treatments like brincidofovir and ZMapp have shown promise, but more research is needed to combat this deadly virus.

International aid and support are crucial in controlling outbreaks and preventing future transmissions.

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