An outbreak of deadly Marburg virus disease (MVD), often referred to as the ‘bleeding eye disease’, has killed at least 15 people, and infected at least 66 in Africa’s Rwanda as of November 29, the country’s Ministry of Health announced. Reports of the fast-spreading Marburg virus have raised concerns about the deadly disease which has already spread to some countries.
As of November 8, 66 confirmed cases, including 15 deaths with a case fatality ratio of 23% were reported, and 51 persons have recovered. The country has reported no new confirmed cases since October 30, 2024. Meanwhile, the WHO has called for enhanced surveillance, and infection prevention and control (IPC) measures to be maintained until the outbreak is formally declared to be over.
According to the WHO, 17 outbreaks of MVD have previously been reported globally, the earliest recorded in 1967. The most recent previous outbreaks were reported in Equatorial Guinea and the United Republic of Tanzania between February and June 2023. Additional countries that previously reported outbreaks of MVD in the African Region include Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda.
How does Marburg virus spread?
Marburg is spread through contact with Egyptian rousette bats, or by contact with infected individuals. According to reports, a new strain of virus called Marburg virus has sparked global fear. The bleeding eye virus can be transmitted from human to human and can cause fatal symptoms, leading to death in 50 percent of the cases. One of the typical symptoms of the disease is bleeding of the eyes and hence it is termed as the bleeding eye disease.
Join our whatsapp group for Latest updates