 
Rwanda recently reported an alarming outbreak of Marburg disease, a very virulent and lethal virus closely related to Ebola. This has taken away the lives of 11 people, whereas health authorities run frantic trying to trace the source of infection, which was still unknown. As this public health crisis unfolded, it has triggered immense concern within Rwanda and around the world because of the virulence of the virus.
In this blog, we will explore what Marburg disease is, the current situation in Rwanda, and the challenges authorities face while controlling the outbreak. We will then discuss potential public health responses and what the international community can do to support Rwanda during this critical time.
What Is Marburg Disease?
Marburg disease is a viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the Marburg virus, which is in the same family as Ebola. The symptoms include sudden onset of fever, intense headache, severe body pains, vomiting, and diarrhea. In its final stages, the virus can cause internal bleeding, failure of organs, and death. The mortality rate can be up to 88%, varying with each strain of the outbreak and availability of medical care.
The disease is spread through direct contact with an infected person’s body fluids or contaminated materials. The disease may also be transmitted by contact with infected animals such as fruit bats, which are the natural reservoir for the virus.
Rwanda Outbreak: Overview
The health officials in Rwanda confirmed the outbreak following 11 fatal deaths from Marburg disease. The country has gone through infectious diseases, but this scenario is almost different as the source of the virus remains unknown. Marburg disease is usually linked with direct contact with the infected animals, mainly bats, or from person-to-person; however, this case has not identified the source from which the virus infiltrated into the population.
The outbreak first started in rural areas where medical care is almost nonexistent. As such, it quickly spread because the interactions in small family and communities are close intimate ones. The health ministry is collaborating with international cooperating agencies such as the World Health Organization to work tirelessly to come up with measures to separate and prevent cases from spreading further.
The Big Public Health Problem
Since the origin of the Marburg virus in Rwanda is not known yet, it somehow poses a challenge to health officers. In most cases, knowing from where the outbreak starts is crucial in controlling it. So, whether the source of the virus comes from wildlife or by some other means, its origin remains unknown, and tracing the contacts and tracing the potential carriers becomes complicated.
Bats handling fruits can be one of the most probable sources since this group has been branded as virus carriers. Such bats have been points of beginnings during the previous epidemic cases that have undergone Marburg attacks in Africa. The vast wildlife grounds present in the land of Rwanda raise the opportunity that the virus might have transferred from animals to human beings. However, at the moment, investigations are still ongoing and experts in health are investigating every possible entry route.
Containment of the Outbreak in Rwanda
The effects of the outbreak have been met with quick responses from the government of Rwanda in form of emergency measures toward containing the virus. Health care personnel have been deployed to the affected areas in order to ensure that medical care is carried out as well as isolate confirmed cases. Additionally, quarantine zones have been constructed in those areas in a bid to ensure that the spread of the virus to more populous regions is prevented.
The Rwanda health ministry is also doing contact tracing. Contact tracing involves identifying people who may have been exposed to the virus. Since Marburg spreads to close contacts of an infected person, tracing the contacts and isolating them is crucial in preventing the chain of transmission.
Awareness programs on health were initiated in order to inform the public of the symptoms of Marburg disease and how to go about protecting themselves. Public education plays a huge role in controlling an outbreak, especially within remote areas lacking healthcare services.
International Support and Collaboration
The international community has reacted very quickly to the crisis in Rwanda. WHO and other health organizations around the world have deployed experts to assist in meeting the emerging needs of responding to an outbreak. They are also working to ensure that medicines, PPE, and funding are supplied in the required amount to deal with the situation.
There is an urgent research and development vaccine as well as treatment for Marburg disease. Though there isn’t any antiviral treatments of the virus specifically, supportive care such as rehydration and intensive care does increase the survival rate. Some experimental vaccines and therapies are under investigation, but they are not yet widely available.
What’s Next? Potential Long-Term Solutions
While short-term action is bound to be done in curtailing the Marburg breakout in Rwanda, long-term action will be necessary before a similar occurrence can happen again. Strengthening surveillance systems will ensure that in case there are potential outbreaks, they are detected and contained before more damage is done. Access to healthcare facilities in most remote areas of the country will facilitate easier management of diseases.
The cause of this outbreak, however unknown, again brings into sharp focus the imperative for research into zoonotic diseases. Understanding how it is that viruses, like the Marburg virus, jump into the human fold is crucial to prevention and control of such outbreaks in the future. Notably, governments, research institutions, and international organizations will need to learn to collaborate effectively in order to diminish, at least, the Marburg and other emerging infectious diseases threat.
Conclusion: A Race Against Time
The Marburg disease outbreak in Rwanda, which has killed 11 people so far, has cast back nightmares of infectious diseases. The source of the virus is yet to be established, and controlling the outbreak would be a challenge for the health authorities. But both Rwanda and international cooperation have swiftly responded, thus possibly prompting control of the outbreak.
As the world witnesses this Marburg scenario, Rwanda’s experience will be a “crucial case study” in handling viral outbreaks. It is in such an event that the requirements for stronger surveillance systems, better healthcare access, and further research into zoonotic diseases have never been more evident. Long-term global cooperation and timely intervention will protect the populations from deadly viruses such as Marburg.
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