KIGALI, Rwanda — The World Health Organization (WHO) and the government of Rwanda announced on Friday that the recent outbreak of Marburg fever has officially ended, following a period of several weeks without any new cases reported.
The outbreak originally declared on September 27 resulted in a total of 15 fatalities and 66 confirmed infections, most of which involved healthcare workers who were in contact with the initial patients.
Marburg fever, which shares similarities with Ebola, can be extremely deadly, leading to a mortality rate of up to 88% for those infected. The disease manifests through various symptoms such as high fever, severe muscle aches, vomiting, diarrhea, and in severe cases, profuse bleeding.
There is currently no licensed vaccine or specific treatment for the Marburg virus. However, Rwanda received experimental vaccines in October to combat the outbreak.
According to WHO guidelines, an outbreak is deemed over if 42 days pass—equivalent to two full cycles of the virus’s incubation period—without new cases, and all existing patients test negative. Rwanda marked the discharge of its last Marburg patient on November 8 and reported no new confirmed cases since October 30.
Despite the official announcement that the outbreak is over, both WHO officials and Rwanda’s Health Minister, Dr. Sabin Nzanzimana, cautioned that the risk remains. They urged continued vigilance. “We believe that the situation isn’t entirely resolved as risks persist, especially from bats. Ongoing efforts include developing new strategies, establishing health teams, and utilizing advanced technologies to monitor bat populations and their interactions with humans,” the minister stated during a press briefing in the capital.
Similar to the Ebola virus, Marburg is believed to originate from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with infectious bodily fluids or contaminated surfaces.
Dr. Brain Chirombo, the WHO representative in Rwanda, expressed gratitude towards the Rwandan government and its citizens for their strong response during the crisis, emphasizing that while progress has been made, the fight is not over.
Historically, Marburg outbreaks and cases have been reported in several African nations, including Tanzania, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Congo, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, and Ghana.
The Marburg virus was first identified in 1967 when it caused concurrent outbreaks in laboratories located in Marburg, Germany, and Belgrade, Yugoslavia. The initial outbreak resulted in the deaths of seven individuals who were exposed to the virus while conducting research on monkeys.