Rwanda has received vaccines for the Marburg virus which will help in response to the ongoing outbreak of the haemorrhagic disease, Minister of Health Dr Sabin Nsanzimana confirmed on Sunday, October 6.
Dr Nsanzimana, who was speaking at a press briefing on the Marburg virus outbreak, said about 700 doses had been received on Saturday night.
He said vaccinations would be launched on Sunday, starting with healthcare workers and the frontline response team.
Additionally, he said, individuals who have been in contact with confirmed cases will be prioritized for vaccination.
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The vaccines availed by Sabin Vaccine Institute were secured with the support of the United States government, Reuters reported on Saturday, October 5.
"The initial shipment of approximately 700 vaccine doses will be used in a trial targeting frontline workers, including healthcare professionals who have been hardest hit by the deadly virus,” the Sabin Vaccine Institute said in a statement on Saturday.
About 80 per cent of the confirmed cases of the Marburg virus in Rwanda are healthcare workers, according to the Ministry of Health.
Rwanda confirmed its first-ever Marburg virus outbreak on September 27. 46 cases and 12 deaths have been reported since.
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The Sabin Vaccine Institute said it had delivered the vaccines doses within one week of the request.
"We have entered into a clinical trial agreement with Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) who is sponsoring the Phase 2 rapid response open-label study,” the statement said.
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On Saturday, the ministry said that 29 patients had been isolated and were receiving treatment for the haemorrhagic disease, whose symptoms include high fever, severe headaches, muscle aches, vomiting and diarrhoea.
As of October 3, health authorities had identified at least 400 contacts of the confirmed cases.
On the same day, US company Gilead Sciences said it had donated about 5,000 vials of its antiviral drug remdesivir for emergency use in the treatment of Marburg virus patients in Rwanda.