Rwanda’s government has been praised for rapidly containing the country’s first outbreak of the Marburg virus while the World Health Organization (WHO) advises all countries to refrain from implementing travel and trade restrictions as the risk of infection is minimal.

Rwanda’s Ministry of Health confirmed the outbreak of the rare contagious disease on September 27. It was initially identified among people with prolonged exposure to fruit bat colonies. It can be transmitted between humans.

As of October 14, the Ministry reported 62 confirmed cases confined mainly to Kigali.

“Since the announcement of outbreak, all new confirmed cases have been within the hospital cluster in Kigali and their contacts and all are under isolation and treatment. There is no evidence of community transmission,” the Ministry said in its latest update.

In its October 10 advisory, WHO pointed out that Rwanda’s government responded rapidly to the outbreak by implementing detection, investigation, isolation and testing of all suspected cases.

“The government has also conducted extensive contact tracing to limit the outbreak to existing chains of transmission. All confirmed cases are isolated and treated at a designated Marburg treatment centre.”

Based on the current risk assessment, WHO advises all countries to refrain from implementing any travel and trade restrictions.

The Sabin Vaccine Institute has delivered 1 700 doses of its Marburg virus vaccine to Rwanda since the start of the outbreak. The vaccine is currently in clinical trial phase with phase 2 doses administered to frontline healthcare workers.

Results from the first phase indicate the vaccine is safe and elicits “rapid, robust immune responses”.

US reaction 'unfair and unacceptable'

The US government’s decision to update its overall travel advisory level for Rwanda from 2 to 3 has been slammed by specialists.

The US Department of State’s October 7 Rwanda Travel Advisory advises US citizens to reconsider travel to Rwanda – a move based on recommendations from the US Centers for Disease Control.

“This decision is unfair and unacceptable, especially for a country that is doing more than all of us in the world are doing to control this, including the US,” said Africa’s top health official Dr Jean Kaseya, DG of the Africa Centres for Disease Control, in a briefing on October 9.

He said the US decision is “not evidence-based”.

“I’m proud to say that Rwanda is a school for all of us on the way to managing this kind of outbreak. We are tired that, every time there is an outbreak in Africa, the world enters into panic mode," Kaseya added.

No risk to tourists 

The tourism industry in Rwanda has emphasised the highly contained nature of the outbreak and minimal risks posed to travellers.

Rudi Wagenaar, Owner of On Demand Hospitality Solutions – which represents leading Rwandan company Wolf DMC – said he was heartened by the willingness of travel agents and clients abroad to listen to local advice and continue with their travels.

“These clients are not going to visit a dedicated Marburg isolation facility so why cancel a once-in-a-lifetime experience? They are going to take the chance to travel and see the primates. There, I want to celebrate our partners, who are willing to listen and not cancel willy nilly and have that knee-jerk reaction.”

Wagenaar applauded the Rwandan government’s transparent approach and effective containment measures.

“Government has been so transparent and can be extremely proud of what they have achieved.”

ATTA’s Medical Advisor Richard Dawood underlined the low risks to tourists and said he expects the outbreak to end soon.

“Obviously, the situation is being closely monitored and there is no room for complacency but, in relation to tourism and travel, the position could not be clearer: normal travel activities do not pose a risk. The public health measures needed to control an outbreak of this type are also clear and my expectations are that this outbreak will be brought to an end quickly.”