Rwanda Battles Marburg Virus Outbreak
Over 300 Infected and 8 Dead
Kigali, Rwanda – The highly contagious Marburg virus has spread across Rwanda, resulting in over 300 infection cases and eight deaths. The outbreak has affected seven out of the 30 districts in the country.
Government Response
Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana stated that Rwanda is intensifying contact tracing and testing to help stop the spread of the virus. This is the first time the virus has infected the country.
WHO’s Involvement
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced on social media that the World Health Organization is scaling up its support and working with Rwandan authorities to help stop the spread. Emergency medical supplies are being prepared for delivery to Kigali from WHO’s Emergency Response Hub in Nairobi, Kenya.
About the Marburg Virus
The Marburg virus was first identified in 1967 in Marburg, Germany, and Belgrade, Serbia. It is transmitted to humans from fruit bats and spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected people. Symptoms include fever, muscle pains, diarrhea, vomiting, and severe blood loss. The virus causes hemorrhagic fever and has a fatality rate of up to 88%. It is related to the Ebola virus.
Doubts Revealed
Rwanda -: Rwanda is a small country in East Africa. It is known for its beautiful landscapes and wildlife.
Marburg virus -: The Marburg virus is a very dangerous virus that can make people very sick. It is similar to the Ebola virus and can cause bleeding and fever.
outbreak -: An outbreak is when a disease spreads quickly and affects many people in a short time.
Health Minister -: A Health Minister is a person in the government who is in charge of making sure people stay healthy and get medical care.
Sabin Nsanzimana -: Sabin Nsanzimana is the Health Minister of Rwanda. He is working hard to stop the spread of the Marburg virus.
WHO -: WHO stands for the World Health Organization. It is a group that helps countries around the world to keep people healthy.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus -: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is the Director-General of the WHO. He helps lead the organization in fighting diseases.
fatality rate -: The fatality rate is the percentage of people who die from a disease out of those who get sick from it.
