Eight people have died in Rwanda from the highly contagious Marburg virus just days after the country declared an outbreak of the deadly hemorrhagic fever that has no authorized vaccine or treatment.
So far, 26 cases have been confirmed in the country, Minister of Health Sabin Nsanzimana said Sunday.
“Marburg is an uncommon disease,” Nsanzimana told reporters. “We are intensifying contact tracing and testing to help stop the spread. »
According to him, the origin of the disease has not yet been determined.
Previous cases and outbreaks in Marburg were recorded in TanzaniaEquatorial Guinea, Angola, Congo, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda and Ghana, according to the World Health Organization.
Here’s what else you need to know about the disease.
What causes Marburg virus?
Like Ebola, Marburg virus originates from fruit bats. It can spread between people through close contact with the bodily fluids of infected people or with surfaces such as contaminated sheets, clothing, needles or medical equipment.
The World Health Organization notes that the Marburg virus is not spread by air.
This uncommon virus was first identified in 1967 after causing simultaneous outbreaks in laboratories in Marburg, Germany, and Belgrade, Serbia. Seven people have died after being exposed to the virus while conducting research on monkeys.
Symptoms of Marburg virus
Selon les Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, symptoms of Marburg virus include:
- fever
- chills
- headache
- muscle pain
- rash
- chest pain
- sore throat
- diarrhea
- vomiting
- stomach pain
- unexplained bleeding or bruising
“In later stages of the disease, bleeding from various sites such as the gums, nose and anus may occur. Patients may suffer from shock, delirium and organ failure. WHO says.
Without treatment, Marburg can be fatal in up to 88% of people with the disease. There are currently no vaccines or treatments approved specifically for this virus.
A person infected with the virus can take between three days and three weeks to show symptoms, Nsanzimana added.
