Emergency relief is underway as Rwanda battles the deadly Marburg virus

Following the country's first outbreak of the highly contagious Marburg virus, the World Health Organization (WHO) is preparing emergency deliveries to Rwanda as authorities try to track down people who may be at risk.

In an update posted on social media platform X on Monday (September 30), Rwanda confirmed 27 cases of the virus, resulting in nine deaths, just days after announcing the outbreak.

The virus, which belongs to the same family as Ebola, has a mortality rate of up to 88 percent. There is currently no approved vaccine or treatment.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 160 people who have come into contact with confirmed cases are being monitored. According to the WHO, the infected people were spread across seven of the country's 30 districts.

Initial contact tracing and testing has shown that the virus is more prevalent in health facilities, according to updates from the Rwandan Ministry of Health on Saturday (September 28).

“Most of the victims are health workers, especially those working in intensive care units,” said Rwanda’s Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana.

“The Ministry of Health is working with other institutions and partners to trace those who may have come into contact with the patients and the deceased.”

Rwanda confirmed its first cases of Marburg virus on Friday (September 27) after the infection was detected in health facilities.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the UN agency was closely monitoring the situation.

“[WHO] is increasing its support and will work with the government of Rwanda to stop the spread of the virus and protect people at risk,” Tedros said in an X post.

The WHO said it was preparing medical supplies and infection prevention supplies from its emergency center in Nairobi, Kenya, in the coming days.

WHO is also working to strengthen cross-border measures with neighboring countries to prevent further spread, according to Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa.

“We are rapidly putting in motion all key aspects of the outbreak response to help Rwanda quickly and effectively stop the spread of this virus,” he said in a WHO statement.

Rwanda made the announcement after news of deaths and images of health workers in Kigali's main referral hospitals began circulating on social media.

Preventive measures

The source of the virus has not yet been confirmed, but Rwanda's Health Ministry said investigations were ongoing. It said increased prevention measures would be taken in all health facilities and infected patients would be isolated for treatment.

Visits to patients in hospitals and attendance at funerals will be restricted.

Like Ebola, the Marburg virus causes hemorrhagic fever, a highly contagious and life-threatening disease.

Infected people typically develop symptoms such as high fever and severe headache, followed by diarrhea and vomiting. More advanced hemorrhagic symptoms, including bleeding and organ failure, usually occur within seven days.

The virus is transmitted to humans from flying foxes and spreads among humans through direct contact with bodily fluids, contaminated surfaces and materials.

According to the WHO, “several promising potential medical countermeasures” against Marburg virus are in clinical development, but no approved vaccine is currently available.

The WHO says it is coordinating a group of experts to speed up the development of vaccines and treatments.