Rwandan authorities have imposed restrictions on funeral sizes for Marburg virus victims in an effort to control the spread of the deadly disease, which marks the country’s first recorded outbreak. The health ministry confirmed the outbreak on Friday.
Marburg, related to Ebola, has a fatality rate as high as 88%. It spreads to humans from fruit bats and via contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals.
To curb the outbreak, the health ministry has limited funeral attendees to no more than 50 people for those who have died from the virus.
In a statement on Sunday, it also emphasized that “normal business and other activities” could continue but advised the public to avoid close contact with symptomatic individuals, who may exhibit signs like fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and muscle pain. The virus can cause death through severe blood loss.
The new guidelines restrict hospital visits for 14 days, allowing only one caregiver per patient. In many developing nations, family members typically assist with care, but this new rule highlights the urgency of reducing contact.
Rwanda’s health minister revealed that healthcare workers have been the majority of victims, particularly in hospital ICU settings.
Dr. Nahid Bhadelia of Boston University told the BBC that containment might be harder because the virus has spread in Kigali, Rwanda’s densely populated capital. However, she expressed optimism, noting that Rwanda’s public health infrastructure is better equipped than many other nations.
To manage the outbreak, the government is ramping up efforts in contact tracing, surveillance, and testing.
Authorities are monitoring around 300 people who came into contact with infected individuals and are urging the public to maintain good hygiene, including regular hand-washing. This outbreak is Rwanda’s first, while neighbouring countries like Tanzania and Uganda experienced similar outbreaks in 2023 and 2017, respectively.
