Eye bleeding disease, which has a mortality rate of up to 90 percent, sickened 58 people as it spread rapidly in the East African country of Rwanda. The outbreak of the virus, a close relative of Ebola, was first confirmed in Rwanda at the end of last month. At least 26 Marburg virus infections were reported in the East African country as of September 30.
In its update published on October 8, the Rwanda Ministry of Health warned that the number of cases had almost doubled in a few days. While the number of people infected with the virus increased to 58, 13 people died. Meanwhile, 33 patients remained in isolation, while 12 patients recovered. Health authorities conducted 2,655 tests to detect people carrying the highly contagious disease.
IT CAUSES UNCONTROLLABLE BLEEDING
It is stated that the Marburg virus, which causes uncontrollable bleeding in various parts of the body, including the eyes, was documented for the first time in Rwanda, and authorities continue to work to find the source of the epidemic. Health officials are also administering hundreds of doses of an experimental vaccine in an attempt to stop the spread of the deadly virus.
The region’s Minister of Health, Sabin Nsanzimana, said people most at risk, such as doctors and people who come into contact with Marburg patients, will be the first to receive the vaccine. A major train station in Hamburg, Germany, was closed after two suspected Marburg cases were detected. While passengers were evacuated from two platforms at Hamburg Central Station, emergency response personnel wearing full protective equipment boarded the train from Frankfurt.
Concerns that the disease would spread to Europe were further fueled by reports that a person suspected of carrying the disease had traveled to Belgium, but the Belgian government health authority told The Sun that the person thought to be carrying the Marburg virus was immediately isolated and is now free of any contact. He said that he completed the entire incubation period without showing any symptoms.
The insect was first detected in Marburg, Germany, in 1967. It is known as the “cousin” of the deadly Ebola virus, which killed more than 11,000 people in an outbreak in West Africa between 2014 and 2016.