The death toll from Marburg virus disease in Rwanda has reached 13 as the number of confirmed cases has risen to 58, Rwanda’s Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana, said.
“As of today, we have 58 confirmed cases of Marburg virus disease. Unfortunately, we have lost 13 people, and we have also 12 people who have recovered from this disease, which is good news,” Nsanzimana said on Thursday evening during an online media briefing alongside Jean Kaseya, director-general of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
With a case fatality rate of 22 per cent, Nsanzimana emphasized the importance of reducing fatalities and curbing further transmission.
“We want to keep the case fatality rate as low as possible, while also stopping new transmissions. That is why intensifying testing is a key strategy along with contact tracing,” he said.
The health minister said that the country, in collaboration with the Africa CDC and other partners, was working hard to contain the virus through enhanced preventive measures across health facilities.
This includes providing supportive treatment for patients and enhancing screening protocols, particularly for those traveling outside the country.
“Since the outbreak was declared in Rwanda on Sept. 27, we immediately put together all our efforts to respond and stop this outbreak before it spreads to other places,” Nsanzimana said, stressing the need for public awareness about the transmission of the Marburg virus disease.
This marks Rwanda’s first outbreak of the Marburg virus disease, which coincides with the country’s ongoing response to a multi-country outbreak of mpox.
MG/gik/APA