Ten people have died in Rwanda from the highly contagious Marburg virusand 29 cases have been confirmed, the country’s health ministry reported Tuesday, just days after the country declared an outbreak of fatal hemorrhagic fever which has no approved vaccine or treatment.
“Marburg is a rare disease,” Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana said on Sunday. “We are stepping up contact tracing and testing to help stop the spread.”
He said the source of the disease has not been determined yet.
Previous cases and outbreaks of Marburg has been recorded in Tanzania, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Congo, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda and Ghana, according to World Health Organization.
Here’s what else to know about the disease.
What causes the Marburg virus?
As EbolaThe Marburg virus originated in fruit bats. It can be spread between people through close contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals or with surfaces, such as contaminated sheets, clothing, needles or medical equipment.
The World Health Organization notes that the Marburg virus does not spread through the air.
The rare virus was first identified in 1967 after it caused simultaneous outbreaks in laboratories in Marburg, Germany and Belgrade, Serbia. Seven people died who were exposed to the virus while doing research on monkeys.
Marburg virus symptoms
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms of Marburg virus include:
- fever
- overindulge
- headache
- muscle pain
- rash
- chest pains
- sore throat
- diarrhea
- vomiting
- stomach ache
- unexplained bleeding or bruising
“In later stages of the disease, bleeding from various sites such as the gums, nose and anus can occur. Patients can suffer from shock, delirium and organ failure.” WHO says.
Without treatment, Marburg can be fatal in up to 88% of people who contract the disease. There are currently no approved vaccines or treatments specifically for this virus.
A person infected with the virus can take between three days and three weeks to show symptoms, Nsanzimana added.