At least 15 people in Rwanda have died from Marburg virus disease (MVD), a deadly illness often referred to as bleeding eye disease. According to Rwanda’s Ministry of Health, 66 people have been infected as of November 29, making it a significant outbreak of this frequently fatal disease.
What is Marburg Virus Disease?
MVD is closely related to the more well-known Ebola virus. It is named bleeding eye disease because the virus causes severe damage to blood vessels, leading to bleeding from multiple orifices, including the eyes. The disease is part of the filovirus family, which also includes Ebola, and both illnesses are almost clinically indistinguishable.
The Marburg virus disease was first identified in 1967 after outbreaks in the German cities of Marburg and Frankfurt, as well as in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. It is believed to spread to humans through fruit bats, with the virus incubating in the body for an average of five to nine days, but it can take up to 21 days for symptoms to appear.
Once symptoms begin, patients experience fever for several days, followed by damage to blood vessels that causes internal bleeding, confusion, aggression, and bleeding from the nose, gums, vagina, eyes, mouth, or ears. Without treatment, the disease is usually fatal, with a case fatality rate of approximately 62 percent.
Impact of the Outbreak
In October, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a warning against all travel to Rwanda due to the outbreak. Travelers were advised to avoid certain activities, including participating in burial rituals or coming into contact with wild animals.
The outbreak now appears to be slowing. As of November 29, Rwanda has reported 28 days without a new case and 22 days since the last patient was discharged from the hospital. However, health officials remain cautious, noting that the virus has a long incubation period.
This outbreak is not the only recent public health concern. Health officials globally have also reported new cases of monkeypox, or Mpox, in regions such as the UK and California, further highlighting the need for vigilance against emerging diseases.
High Pandemic Potential
MVD has been classified by the WHO as having high pandemic potential due to its fatality rate and the lack of a specific antiviral therapy. Treatment primarily involves supportive care, such as hydration and managing symptoms.
Efforts to develop a vaccine are ongoing. As part of a clinical trial, more than 1,500 health workers in Rwanda have been administered an experimental vaccine. This research offers hope for better management of future outbreaks, though there is still no definitive cure or treatment for the disease.
Historical Context and Lessons
This outbreak serves as a reminder of the global health risks posed by zoonotic diseases, which are transmitted from animals to humans. MVD and Ebola share similar transmission routes and clinical presentations, underscoring the need for robust surveillance and swift responses to outbreaks.
As Rwanda works to contain the outbreak, global health officials are closely monitoring the situation to ensure that lessons learned from managing MVD can be applied to other high-risk diseases, further strengthening international efforts to prevent pandemics.
