Days after Rwanda announced an outbreak of the Marburg virus, authorities have introduced a set of measures to control its spread in the country.
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Visits to hospitalized patients were banned for the next 14 days and a patient is allowed one caregiver at a time, according to the guidelines issued by the Health Ministry.
In the event of death from Marburg, the ministry has also prohibited wakes and vigils to reduce the risk of the virus transmission.
Funeral services for those who succumbed to Marburg will be restricted to a maximum of 50 people, while open-casket viewings are banned in homes, churches, or mosques and will only be conducted in designated areas within health care facilities, with the limited number of people.
Marburg, with a fatality ratio of up to 88%, is from the same virus family as Ebola, according to the World Health Organization.
Illness caused by the Marburg virus begins abruptly, with high fever, severe headaches and severe malaise.
Many patients develop severe hemorrhagic 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.
Symptoms include high fever, strong headache, vomiting and muscle aches.
“About to start vaccine and therapeutic clinical trials to protect high-risk groups. Let’s work together to contain this,” Health State Minister Yvan Butera said on X.
Since the disease outbreak was announced late last month, Rwanda has recorded 36 cases with 11 deaths, according to the Health Ministry.
At least 25 people are in isolation and on treatment, the ministry said on Wednesday.
Butera said health officials are monitoring 410 contacts with a goal of breaking transmission chains.
He said five patients are now testing negative, pending further clinical and lab workouts. ■
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