Rwanda has pinpointed the source of an outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus, linking it to mining activity in a cave inhabited by fruit bats.
During a briefing on Thursday, Rwandan Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana confirmed that the initial case of the virus, known as the ‘index case’, likely emerged from a mining site, emphasizing the importance of minimizing human interaction with bats.
The outbreak, which began less than a month ago, has resulted in 64 confirmed cases and 15 deaths, according to a report by the Rwandan Health Ministry published on X (formerly Twitter).
Health authorities swiftly halted all mining operations at the cave site and are conducting health checks on miners who may have been exposed.
“We’ve brought together different teams from vets, epidemiology, genomic surveillance and lab diagnostics, to test these animals and also people,” the health minister said. “It’s very important for the scientific community to study the animal perspective and humans, but also the environment.”
The government has launched a targeted vaccination campaign for healthcare workers and those in high-risk zones, with over 1,300 people inoculated.
Marburg virus disease, formerly known as Marburg hemorrhagic fever and first identified in 1967 following simultaneous outbreaks in Marburg, Germany, and Belgrade, Serbia, is a highly infectious illness with symptoms similar to Ebola. They include nausea, vomiting, sore throat, and severe abdominal pain, which can lead to fatal hemorrhaging. It spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated surfaces. While cases remain rare, previous outbreaks in Africa have demonstrated the virus’s severe impact, with fatality rates typically ranging from 24% to 88%.
The virus has struck various regions of Africa in recent years. In 2023, Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea reported Marburg outbreaks, while Ghana experienced an outbreak in 2022, and Uganda recorded three deaths from the virus in 2017.
The Russian Vector State Scientific Center of Virology and Biotechnology has completed pre-clinical trials of the Marburg fever vaccine, which has shown high efficacy and safety. Clinical trials are being prepared and a series of vaccines are being developed.