Rwanda has reported six deaths and 20 confirmed cases of Marburg disease, according to Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana, who made the announcement in a video statement on Saturday.
Most of the victims are healthcare workers from the intensive care unit, Nsanzimana said. “We have 20 infected individuals and six fatalities due to this virus, primarily among health workers,” he noted.
Marburg disease is a viral hemorrhagic fever that can lead to death, with symptoms including severe headaches, vomiting, and muscle and stomach aches. The health ministry is coordinating efforts to trace those who may have come into contact with infected individuals.
With a fatality rate as high as 88%, Marburg is in the same virus family as Ebola and is transmitted from fruit bats to humans, spreading through contact with bodily fluids.
Neighboring Tanzania reported Marburg cases in 2023, while Uganda experienced similar outbreaks in 2017.