In response to the country’s first Marburg virus outbreak, Rwandan authorities have implemented strict funeral restrictions in an effort to curb the spread of the highly contagious disease. Only 50 people are permitted to attend funerals for individuals who have succumbed to the virus. This precaution aims to limit the number of potential exposures to the virus, which spreads through contact with bodily fluids of infected persons.
The Deadly Nature of the Marburg Virus
The Marburg virus, from the same family as Ebola, has a fatality rate of up to 88%. The disease is transmitted from fruit bats to humans and subsequently through direct contact with bodily fluids. Victims experience symptoms such as fever, severe headaches, muscle aches, vomiting, and diarrhoea. In severe cases, the virus leads to death from excessive blood loss.
Public Health Measures: Keeping Activities Going with Caution
Despite the outbreak, the Rwandan government has advised that daily activities and businesses may continue under certain precautions. Citizens are urged to avoid close contact with symptomatic individuals and to practice regular handwashing. Hospital visitation has also been restricted for 14 days, with only one caregiver allowed per patient to limit potential spread within healthcare facilities.
A Healthcare Challenge: Most Victims Are Healthcare Workers
The outbreak has taken a significant toll on healthcare professionals, with most of the victims being hospital workers in intensive care units. The situation is further complicated as cases have emerged in the densely populated capital city, Kigali. Unlike previous outbreaks, which often occurred in rural areas, containing the virus in such a setting poses new challenges.
Contact Tracing and Prevention Efforts Underway
Rwandan health officials have stepped up contact tracing, surveillance, and testing, tracking nearly 300 individuals who had contact with confirmed cases. Public health efforts are supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), which is sending experts, testing kits, and personal protective equipment to aid in the containment of the virus.
Marburg Virus: A Historical and Global Perspective
First identified in 1967 in Germany and Serbia, the Marburg virus has a deadly history, with outbreaks occurring primarily in Africa. Previous outbreaks have claimed lives in countries such as Uganda, Kenya, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The virus is primarily transmitted by African green monkeys and fruit bats.
Globally, only two deaths have occurred outside of Africa in the past 40 years. Both victims had been exposed to the virus in Uganda. The World Health Organization stresses that there is no vaccine for the Marburg virus, but clinical trials for treatment options are ongoing.
Preventive Measures for the Public
Health organizations advise avoiding contact with wild animals, particularly fruit bats and pigs, in affected areas. People should also avoid handling or consuming bushmeat, as it could harbor the virus. Men who have recovered from the disease are advised to use condoms for up to a year or until their semen tests negative twice for the virus. Those handling the bodies of victims should strictly avoid touching the deceased to prevent further transmission.
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