There has been a recent global concern after a Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda claimed at least eight lives last September 2024. This was the first time Rwanda recorded a case of the virus.
This highly infectious disease, similar to Ebola, causes fever, muscle pains, diarrhoea, and vomiting. It could include fatal blood loss.
Marburg Virus Incidence In Africa
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports a fatality rate of 24-88%, with an average of 50% of infected individuals succumbing to the virus. Since its discovery in 1967, linked to African green monkeys imported from Uganda, Marburg virus outbreaks have primarily occurred in Africa, resulting in hundreds of deaths. In 2005, it claimed 300 lives in Angola.
Recent outbreaks have hit Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. Outside Africa, only two fatalities, in the US and UK, have been recorded in the past 40 years.
Following the September outbreak in Rwanda, health professionals are monitoring the 300 individuals (including healthcare workers who tested positive) who had contact with the deceased victims. The WHO is providing support, experts, testing kits, and protective equipment to manage the situation.
Symptoms begin with fever, headache, and muscle pains, followed by diarrhoea, nausea, and vomiting. Patients often exhibit "ghost-like" characteristics, deep-set eyes, and extreme lethargy. Severe blood loss and shock can occur, leading to death within eight to nine days of infection.
The virus spreads through bodily fluids, contaminated bedding, and contact with infected animals like African green monkeys, pigs, and Egyptian rousette fruit bats. The blood or semen recovered patients can remain infectious for months.
At the moment, there is no specific treatment or vaccine, although trials are underway. Doctors can alleviate symptoms with fluid replacement and blood transfusions.
Containment measures include:
Avoid consuming bushmeat consumption and contact African green monkeys, pigs, and the like in outbreak areas
Men who once tested positive should use condoms for a year or until semen tests negative twice
Avoid direct contact with infected bodies during burials
Gavi and the WHO stress that these precautions should be taken to prevent further spread. As research is ongoing to develop effective treatments and vaccines, vigilance and cooperation are essential in combating the Marburg virus outbreak.