Rwanda says no community transmission of Marburg virus, with zero new infections in recent days

Rwanda’s well being minister stated Sunday that an outbreak of the Marburg virus just isn’t spreading within the nation, citing the absence of recent infections or deaths up to now six days.

“We do not have neighborhood transmission,” Well being Minister Sabin Nsanzimana advised reporters in Kigali, the Rwandan capital. All optimistic instances have come from the checklist of identified contacts of individuals with the virus, he stated.

Figuring out and isolating folks uncovered to contamination is essential to stopping outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic fevers like Marburg. Rwanda has documented 1,146 contacts.

Nsanzimana spoke alongside Tedros Adhanom Ghebereyesus, the World Well being Group director-general, who praised Rwanda’s efforts to stem the outbreak of the Ebola-like illness.

“I can see that the outbreak is being managed below sturdy management,” Tedros stated. “However we’re coping with one of many world’s most harmful viruses, and continued vigilance is crucial.”

Rwanda declared the outbreak on Sept. 27 and has thus far reported 15 deaths. Well being authorities have confirmed 44 recoveries and solely three lively instances stay, based on official figures.

A lot of the affected folks have been well being employees who received the virus whereas treating sufferers, Nsanzimana stated.

Nsanzimana stated that an investigation confirmed the index case was nearly actually a 27-year-old man who had been uncovered to the virus from contact with a selected cave-dwelling bat species. The person had sought therapy at Kigali’s King Faisal Hospital, exposing many well being employees there.

Like Ebola, the Marburg virus is believed to originate in fruit bats and spreads between folks by means of shut contact with the bodily fluids of contaminated people or with surfaces, reminiscent of contaminated mattress sheets.

With out therapy, Marburg could be deadly in as much as 88% of people that fall sick. Signs embrace fever, muscle pains, diarrhea, vomiting and, in some instances, demise by means of excessive blood loss.

Rwandans have been urged to keep away from bodily contact to assist curb the unfold. Faculties and hospital visits have been suspended and the numbers of people that can attend funerals for Marburg victims have additionally been restricted. Dwelling vigils are banned if a demise is linked to Marburg.

The U.S. Embassy in Kigali has urged its employees to work remotely and keep away from visiting workplaces.

There is no such thing as a licensed vaccine or therapy for Marburg.

Marburg outbreaks and particular person instances have up to now been recorded in Tanzania, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Congo, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda and Ghana.

The virus was first recognized in 1967 after it brought about simultaneous outbreaks of illness in laboratories within the German metropolis of Marburg and in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. Seven folks died after being uncovered to the virus whereas conducting analysis on monkeys.

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