KIGALI, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- At least 856 people have been vaccinated against the Marburg virus disease in Rwanda, Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana announced Thursday.
The government has utilized investigational vaccine doses provided by the Sabin Vaccine Institute, a nonprofit organization, to immunize high-risk populations, including healthcare workers and individuals in close contact with Marburg patients.
"We anticipate to continue to vaccinate those at high risk, close contacts, and frontline workers," he told journalists during a virtual press briefing.
Nsanzimana noted that the ministry has recorded consecutive days without any Marburg-related deaths, which is encouraging. He also highlighted that, over the past week, the number of people recovering from treatment centers has outpaced those succumbing to the virus.
Since the Marburg virus disease outbreak was declared in Rwanda in late September, the latest ministry data reports 62 confirmed cases and 15 deaths, with the majority of those affected being healthcare workers.
To ensure no symptomatic cases are overlooked, Nsanzimana said that extensive testing is being conducted, averaging 200 to 300 tests per day.
"Overall the trend is very positive with new infections declining significantly and also the mortality reducing in a trend that is encouraging for people on the frontline," he said.
Earlier this month, Rwanda launched vaccine trials for the Marburg virus disease and has received approximately 1,700 investigational vaccine doses from the Sabin Vaccine Institute.
Nsanzimana mentioned that screening of travelers at Kigali International Airport and land borders, along with contact tracing, continues as part of the country's response measures.
