Infected Leads to Death... '88% Fatality Rate' Marburg Virus Causes 6 Deaths in Rwanda

Symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, and bleeding

On the 28th (local time), Sabin Nsanzimana, Rwanda's Minister of Health, announced that 20 people have been infected with Marburg virus disease in Rwanda, and 6 have died. This disease is an acute febrile infectious disease with a fatality rate of up to 88%.

According to foreign media, Minister Nsanzimana made this statement in a post on X (formerly Twitter) the day before. He said, "Most of the deceased were healthcare workers in the intensive care unit," and added, "We are tracing individuals who have come into contact with those infected with the virus."

Marburg virus disease is an acute febrile illness characterized by high fever, severe headache, and bleeding. It was first identified in 1967 during an outbreak in Marburg, Germany, which is how the disease got its name.

The officially confirmed primary source of infection was African green monkeys imported from Uganda. Due to its high fatality rate of up to 88% and strong transmissibility, it is considered similar to the Ebola virus. It spreads between humans through contact with bodily fluids such as blood and vomit. The incubation period ranges from 4 to 9 days.

Symptoms include headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and rash, followed by the onset of bleeding. Patients may die from organ failure and shock caused by bleeding. Currently, no vaccine or antiviral treatment has been developed, but fluid replacement therapy to alleviate symptoms is recommended.