Rwanda Reports First Marburg Virus Outbreak

An outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) first confirmed by Rwanda’s Ministry of Health Sept. 27 has grown to include 26 confirmed cases, including eight deaths, in the densely populated African country. It is the first reported outbreak of MVD in Rwanda. Among the confirmed cases, more than 70% are among health care workers from two facilities in Kigali, the capital city. 

MVD is a rare but highly fatal viral hemorrhagic fever transmitted to people from bats. It spreads among humans through contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, including blood, sweat, feces and semen. MVD can also spread through objects contaminated by an infected person. There have been no documented cases of transfusion-transmission of MVD.

Additional information about MVD is available on AABB’s Marburg Virus Fact Sheet.