Marburg outbreak in Rwanda

[Astronuc]

An 'unprecedented' good news story about a potentially deadly viral outbreak
https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-...marburg-outbreak-rwanda-unprecedented-success

Marburg virus is notorious for its killing ability. In past outbreaks, as many as 9 out of 10 patients have died from the disease. And there are no approved vaccines or medications.

That was the grim situation in Rwanda just over a month ago, when officials made the announcement that nobody wants to make: The country was in the midst of its first Marburg outbreak.

Now those same Rwandan officials have better news to share. Remarkably better.

“We are at a case fatality rate of 22.7% — probably among the lowest ever recorded [for a Marburg outbreak],” said Dr. Yvan Butera, the Rwandan Minister of State for Health at a press conference hosted by Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday.

Related thread
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/marburg-case-in-gueckedou-prefecture-guinea-w-africa.1005996/

 

[jedishrfu]

But why? Are people somehow adapting to the disease?

 

[OmCheeto]

But why? Are people somehow adapting to the disease?

From the article, it appears better care is the reason. And better care developed from things learned during the Covid pandemic. So I would say it was the healthcare system that adapted.

Also mentioned in the article was that during the very first Marburg outbreak, in Germany in 1967, the mortality rate was 23%.

 

[jedishrfu]

I recall one of the issues was funeral customs in some areas where people washed, dressed, and laid hands on the deceased to say goodbye.

 

[Astronuc]

I recall one of the issues was funeral customs in some areas where people washed, dressed, and laid hands on the deceased to say goodbye.

Yes, that was an issue with Ebola as well.

I think a more rapid response with those who contract the virus and better health care have lead to more people surviving.

In the Wikipedia article on Ebola, another hemorrhagic virus, it mentions:

Death is often due to shock from fluid loss, and typically occurs between six and 16 days after the first symptoms appear. Early treatment of symptoms increases the survival rate considerably compared to late start.

Fluid loss comes from vomiting and diarrhea, and eventually bleeding. An ill patients may be too ill or weak to drink, so IV solutions would be necessary.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebola

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marburg_virus
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marburg_virus_disease

There are vaccines for the Ebola virus (or orthoebolavirus), but not for Marburg, yet.

 

[Laroxe]

An 'unprecedented' good news story about a potentially deadly viral outbreak
https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-...marburg-outbreak-rwanda-unprecedented-success


Related thread
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/marburg-case-in-gueckedou-prefecture-guinea-w-africa.1005996/

I'm not sure whether this good news. I remember when these haemorrhagic fevers started being reported and the fear generated by the very high mortality rate seen. There was a real concern of international spread, which would have been devastating, luckily it didn't happen.

Apparently while the virus is readily transmitted by physical contact, people infected become profoundly ill very quickly, this in fact has a massive effect on the opportunity of transmission. The high mortality rate and slow recovery effectively localised any spread. It seems that each new outbreak is the result of zoonotic spread and the low numbers make any estimates of a mortality rate unreliable.