Rwanda is set to launch a vaccine trial against the Marburg hemorrhagic fever as the death toll from the outbreak has risen to 12. The Rwandan health authorities announced their decision to embark on a vaccine study to combat the spread of the deadly virus that has claimed the lives of 12 individuals in the East African country.
Authorities in Rwanda received 700 doses of a trial vaccine from the Sabin Vaccine Institute based in the United States. The vaccine will be administered to health workers, emergency responders, and individuals who have had contact with confirmed cases of Marburg, as confirmed by the Health Ministry. The Health Minister, Sabin Nsanzimana, confirmed that the Rwanda Biomedical Centre had reviewed the vaccine shipment.
Marburg, similar to Ebola, is a viral disease that is thought to originate from fruit bats and is transmitted through close contact with the bodily fluids or contaminated materials from infected individuals. Currently, there is no approved vaccine or treatment for Marburg, which can be fatal in up to 88% of cases.
The Sabin Vaccine Institute has entered into a clinical trial agreement with the Rwanda Biomedical Centre to provide investigational doses for the study. Rwanda has reported 46 confirmed cases of Marburg, with 29 individuals under isolation. Health authorities have identified around 400 people who have come into contact with confirmed cases.
The outbreak of Marburg in Rwanda was declared on September 27, with six deaths reported initially. The first cases were identified among patients in healthcare facilities, but the source of the outbreak has not been confirmed yet. Symptoms of Marburg include fever, muscle pains, diarrhea, vomiting, and, in severe cases, death due to extensive blood loss.
Most of those affected in Rwanda are healthcare workers from six out of the country’s 30 districts, with some patients residing in areas bordering Congo, Burundi, Uganda, and Tanzania. The World Health Organization has advised Rwandans to avoid physical contact to prevent further spread of the virus.
Stringent measures have been implemented, including the suspension of school and hospital visits, restrictions on funeral attendance for Marburg victims, and the prohibition of home vigils in case of Marburg-related deaths. The U.S. Embassy in Kigali has advised its staff to work remotely and avoid office visits to reduce the risk of exposure.
Marburg outbreaks and isolated cases have been documented in several African countries, including Tanzania, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Congo, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, and Ghana, according to the WHO. The virus was first identified in 1967 following outbreaks in laboratories in Marburg, Germany, and Belgrade, Serbia, where it resulted in the deaths of seven individuals involved in primate research.
This vaccine trial marks a crucial step in Rwanda’s efforts to contain the Marburg outbreak and protect its population from this deadly virus.