KIGALI – Rwanda announced on Sunday that it has begun distributing doses of the Marburg virus vaccine in an effort to combat an outbreak of the disease, which has so far claimed 12 lives.
During a press conference, Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana stated that vaccinations would focus on those “most at risk, including healthcare professionals working in treatment centres, hospitals, intensive care units, and emergency services, as well as those in close contacts with confirmed cases.”
“We believe that with these vaccines, we have a powerful tool to contain this virus,” the minister said.
The first outbreak of viral hemorrhagic fever in Rwanda was detected at the end of September, with 46 cases and 12 deaths reported since then. The Marburg virus fever has a fatality rate of up to 88%.
