Rwanda has launched a vaccination campaign against the Marburg virus, aiming to combat an outbreak that has claimed 12 lives in the East African country.
“The vaccination is starting today immediately,” Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana announced at a press conference in Kigali.
The vaccinations will prioritize healthcare workers and close contacts of confirmed cases.
The country has received vaccine shipments from the Sabin Vaccine Institute, among others.
Rwanda’s first Marburg outbreak was detected in late September, with 46 cases and 12 deaths reported.
Marburg has a fatality rate of up to 88%.
Symptoms of Marburg include high fever, severe headaches, and malaise within seven days of infection, followed by severe nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
The virus is transmitted to humans by fruit bats and spreads through contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals.
Neighboring Uganda has experienced several Marburg outbreaks in the past.
“We believe that with vaccines, we have a powerful tool to stop the spread of this virus,” the minister said.