World

Rwanda confirms cases of Marburg viral disease

By AAP Newswire

Sep 28, 2024

Medical worker — Rwandan officials say those infected with Marburg disease have been isolated for treatment. -AP

Rwanda has confirmed its first cases of Marburg disease, a viral hemorrhagic fever that can cause death among some patients, the country's health ministry says.

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It said in a statement that it was investigating to determine the origin of infection and that those infected had been isolated for treatment.

The ministry did not give exact numbers but said there were few cases.

ðŸš¨Hashyizweho Ingamba zo kwirinda no guhangana n'indwara y'umuriro mwinshi iterwa na virusi ya Marburgâ€” Ministry of Health | Rwanda (@RwandaHealth) ----Enhanced preventive measures implemented for viral feverðŸš¨ pic.twitter.com/RonMVKYsyE September 27, 2024

With a fatality rate of as high as 88 per cent, Marburg is from the same virus family as the one responsible for Ebola and is transmitted to people from fruit bats.

It then spreads through contact with bodily fluids of infected people.

Symptoms include high fever, severe headache, vomiting, muscle aches and stomach aches, the ministry said.

Neighbouring Tanzania had cases of Marburg in 2023 while Uganda had similar ones in 2017.

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press