Health Workers racing against Time to Contain Marbug Virus Outbreak in Rwanda
Rwanda is bracing for a fight against the emerging Marbug virus, announcing plans to commence vaccine and therapeutic clinical trials in the coming weeks. The novel virus, linked to the same family as Ebola, has claimed lives and alarmed authorities, prompting swift measures to contain the outbreak.
According to Rwanda’s Health Minister, Sabin Nsanzimana, the government is colluding with pharmaceutical companies to develop vaccines, alongside support from the World Health Organization (WHO). The Ministry is racing against time, as the disease has so far claimed several lives in the country and infected countless others. With a fatal rate of up to 88%, every minute counts in the quest to thwart the spread of Marbug.
The Marbug virus is transmitted through contact with bodily fluids of those already infected, a process exacerbated by the virus’s affinity for fruit bats. Originating from this natural hosts, the disease has only recently been detected in the country, with dozens of cases reported. Authorities, meanwhile, are monitoring closely hundreds of people who’ve had contact with those confirmed infected.
A similar instance of the Marbug viral fever was witnessed in nearby Tanzania last year, setting stage for the country’s dire need for immediate action in this outbreak. Rwanda will need to collaborate with neighbouring countries and the global scientific community to get a clearer understanding of this new virulent disease.
