Rwanda begins vaccine trials against the deadly Marburg virus

Rwanda has announced it will begin vaccine trials against the deadly Marburg virus, which has already killed at least 12 people in the country – most of them health workers.

The East African country has received 700 doses of the vaccine from the Sabin Vaccine Institute, a US-based non-profit organization.

According to Health Minister Sabin Nsansiman, the most vulnerable people, such as doctors and people who have come into contact with Marburg patients, will initially be the target of vaccination.

The highly contagious disease is similar to Ebola and has symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, diarrhea, vomiting and, in some cases, death from extreme blood loss.

According to the Ministry of Health, there have been at least 46 cases in Rwanda. This is the first time the virus has been found in the country and the source is still unknown.

Nsansiman said “people should not be worried” about health concerns about the vaccine as trials have already taken place in Kenya and Uganda.

The Marburg vaccine has only been tested in adults aged 18 and over; there are currently no plans to conduct trials in children.

The health minister said there were plans to order more doses.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Marburg virus kills on average half of the people infected. Previous outbreaks are known to have killed between 24% and 88% of those infected.

To contain the virus, Rwandan authorities have restricted burial sizes for victims of the virus.

Rwanda also plans to introduce travel restrictions as well as temperature checks, passenger surveys and hand sanitizing stations at departure locations.

The Marburg virus is transmitted to humans by flying foxes and then through contact with bodily fluids from infected individuals.

Neighboring Tanzania reported an outbreak in 2023. Three people died in Uganda in 2017.

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