Rwanda starts giving Marburg shots to stop the deadly outbreak

It was announced on Sunday that Rwanda had started giving out vaccines against the Marburg virus to try to stop a spread of the disease that looks like Ebola in the east African country. The disease has already killed 12 people.

“The shots are going to start right away,” Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana told reporters in Kigali, the city, today.

He said that the vaccinations would mostly be given to “healthcare workers who are most at risk and exposed, such as those who work in treatment centers, hospitals, intensive care units, emergency rooms, and with people who are close to confirmed cases.”

The vaccines have already been sent to the country, including some from the Sabin Vaccine Institute.

Late in September, Rwanda saw its first case of viral hemorrhagic fever. Since then, 46 cases and 12 deaths have been recorded. Up to 88% of people who go to Marburg die.

Within seven days of getting infected, people with Marburg have a high fever, severe headaches, and general malaise. Later, they get severe sickness, vomiting, and diarrhea.

People get it from fruit bats and then get it from touching the body fluids of people who already have it. Uganda, which is close by, has had several breakouts in the past.

“We believe that with vaccines, we have a powerful tool to stop the spread of this virus,” he said.