Marburg outbreak death toll rises to 8

In a follow-up on the Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak in Rwanda, the health ministry reports today two additional fatalities in the outbreak, bringing the total deaths to eight.

18 people remain in isolation and are being treated.

The Rwanda Ministry of Health published the following guidelines for preventing MVD:

Health officials say people can continue with their daily activities - there is no ban on any activity as part of the Marburg prevention measures. People should not panic as they have identified all the hotspots of the disease and are taking appropriate action.

Marburg virus disease is highly virulent and causes haemorrhagic fever, with a fatality ratio of up to 88%. It is in the same family as the virus that causes Ebola virus disease. Illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly, with high fever, severe headache and severe malaise. Many patients develop severe haemorrhagic symptoms within seven days. The virus is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials.

There are no vaccines or antiviral treatments approved to treat the virus. However, supportive care – rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids – and treatment of specific symptoms, improves survival.