Marburg: Uganda heightens surveillance at airport, border points with Rwanda

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Uganda has heightened surveillance at the country's international airport and the common border with Rwanda after a Marburg virus disease outbreak has left 12 people dead in the neighbouring country, a health official said Tuesday.

Daniel Kyabayinze, director of public health at the Ugandan Ministry of Health, told Xinhua over the telephone that health authorities have activated readiness and response plans at the Entebbe International Airport, about 40 km south of the Ugandan capital of Kampala, and various entry points bordering Rwanda.

Kyabayinze said the measure is to prevent the possible importation of the viral disease. Currently, no case of Marburg virus disease (MVD) has been reported within Uganda, according to the ministry. Rwanda, as of Saturday, had reported 46 confirmed cases, including 12 deaths and five recoveries.

"International health regulations do not allow us to close borders. So, what we have done is to increase our own surveillance at the airport, six designated crossing points, and unofficial crossing points between the two countries," said Kyabayinze.

He said the ministry has done an assessment for response and sent circulars to health workers to improve their personal protection and infection prevention activities to make sure they do not get caught off guard.

MVD is a highly virulent disease that causes hemorrhagic fever, with a fatality rate of up to 88 percent, according to the World Health Organization. Its symptoms include high fever, severe headaches, and malaise, typically developing within seven days of infection.

Rwanda began administering Marburg vaccine trials on Sunday, prioritizing frontline workers as part of efforts to prevent the spread of Marburg virus disease (MVD) in the country.

Rwandan Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana told a press conference in the national capital of Kigali on Sunday that the first round of trial vaccinations targets healthcare workers, emergency responders, and individuals who have had contact with confirmed Marburg cases.

"We have received 700 doses of the vaccine, and we are hopeful that more will arrive soon to continue our efforts in safeguarding the health of our people," Nsanzimana said, emphasizing the importance of protecting frontline workers, particularly those at high risk of exposure.

"The Marburg vaccine, produced by the Sabin Vaccine Institute, has already proven effective in countries like Uganda and Kenya," Nsanzimana said, emphasizing that it is both safe and trusted.

MVD is a highly virulent disease that causes hemorrhagic fever, with a fatality rate of up to 88 percent. It belongs to the same family of viruses that causes Ebola virus disease, according to the WHO. MVD symptoms include high fever, severe headaches, and malaise, typically developing within seven days of infection

Meanwhile, he World Health Organization (WHO) has deployed 11 experts to support Rwanda's rapid response to the Marburg outbreak.

Rwanda declared the Marburg outbreak late last month. As of Saturday, the country had reported 46 confirmed cases, including 12 deaths and five recoveries. The cumulative number of tests conducted to date stands at 1,748.