AA / Tunis
The Government of Rwanda announced on Friday the end of the Marburg virus disease epidemic, with no new cases having been reported in the last 42 days, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported in a statement.
The announcement came after the last patient was declared negative twice on the basis of tests carried out, in accordance with the standard protocol put in place to put an end to this type of outbreak, specifies the same source.
Confirmed on September 27, 2024, this outbreak of Marburg virus disease was a first in Rwanda. A total of 66 cases were laboratory confirmed and 15 deaths recorded. Nearly 80% of cases involved healthcare workers infected while caring for colleagues and other patients, the WHO points out.
To stop the spread of the virus and save lives, Rwandan health authorities, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, deployed a comprehensive response, encompassing a wide range of measures ranging from disease surveillance to screening, infection control, contact tracing, clinical care and public awareness. These measures helped to slow the spread of the outbreak, as evidenced by a halving of cases between the second and third week following their detection, and a reduction of around 90% thereafter, notes the same source.
The Marburg virus belongs to the same family as the virus that causes Ebola virus disease. It is very virulent, with a fatality rate ranging between 24% and 88%. During this outbreak, the case fatality rate was relatively low, at around 23%. This virus is transmitted to humans by fruit bats and spreads within the human species by direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, as well as with contaminated surfaces and materials, finally specifies the WHO.
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