eight deaths from marburg virus just days after outbreak declared in rwanda

Kigali (Rwanda). Rwanda says eight people have died so far from the Ebola-like and highly contagious ‘Marburg virus’. Rwanda’s statement comes just days after it announced an outbreak of deadly hemorrhagic fever in the country. There is no currently approved vaccine or treatment for this fever. Like Ebola, Marburg virus originates from fruit bats and spreads between people through contact with infected individuals’ bodily fluids or surfaces such as contaminated bed sheets. If people suffering from Marburg disease are not treated, it can be fatal for 88 percent of people infected with it.

The Central African country of Rwanda declared an outbreak on Friday and recorded its first six deaths a day later. Health Minister Sabine Sanjimana said on Sunday night that so far 26 cases have been confirmed and eight infected patients have died. People have been appealed to avoid physical touch to prevent the spread of infection. About 300 people who came in contact with people infected with the virus have also been identified and some of them have been kept in isolation centres.

Most of the affected are health workers in six of the country’s 30 districts. Sanjimana told reporters, Marburg is a rare disease. “We are intensifying contact tracing and testing to help stop the spread,” he said. The minister said that the source of the disease has not been known yet. He said that it may take three days to three weeks for symptoms to appear in a person infected with the virus. Its symptoms include fever, muscle pain, diarrhea, vomiting and in some cases even death due to excessive blood loss.

Disclaimer: Prabhasakshi has not edited this news. This news has been published from PTI-language feed.