The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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By: BBC
Rwanda has officially declared the end of the Marburg virus outbreak, following 42 consecutive days without any new cases, a move that meets World Health Organization (WHO) criteria.
The outbreak, first announced on September 27 this year, has resulted in 66 confirmed cases, most of them healthcare workers, with 15 deaths and 51 recoveries.
According to the country’s Ministry of Health, since October 15, Rwanda has not recorded any deaths related to Marburg nor any new cases of the disease.
Marburg virus is a highly contagious disease similar to Ebola. Its symptoms include fever, muscle aches, diarrhea, vomiting, and in severe cases, death from massive blood loss, and there are currently no approved treatments or vaccines for the disease.
In response to the outbreak, Rwanda began a vaccination campaign on October 6, using an experimental vaccine developed by the Sabin Vaccine Institute in the United States.
Reports say that measures such as testing, contact tracing, medical services, and public education campaigns halved the number of new cases within two weeks and reduced them by 90% shortly thereafter.
To prevent a resurgence, Rwanda will continue high-level surveillance for at least six months.
