KIGALI, Oct 3 – Rwanda is set to begin clinical trials for vaccines and treatments targeting Marburg disease in the coming weeks, according to the country’s health minister, Sabin Nsanzimana. This marks Rwanda’s first outbreak of the deadly viral fever, which has already claimed 11 lives.
The outbreak, first identified in late September, has led to 36 confirmed cases, according to data from the health ministry. Nsanzimana emphasized that the clinical trials are part of Rwanda’s efforts to accelerate recovery through vaccines and medicines developed specifically for this outbreak, which are currently in the final stages of research.
“We are working with pharmaceutical companies and the World Health Organization to fast-track the approval process through multilateral collaboration,” Nsanzimana said, adding that the government is in discussions with firms based in the U.S. and Europe.
Assistant health minister Yvan Butera noted that the ministry is closely monitoring 410 individuals who had contact with those infected. Five other people have tested negative but are awaiting further test results.
Marburg, a viral hemorrhagic fever similar to Ebola, has a fatality rate of up to 88%. Symptoms, including high fever, severe headaches, and malaise, typically appear within seven days of infection. The virus is transmitted to humans via fruit bats and spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of those infected.
Neighboring Tanzania experienced Marburg cases in 2023, while Uganda saw an outbreak in 2017.