٠٠:٠١:٠٠Mandatory credit: WHO
The World Health Organisation's (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus commented on the spread of the Marburg virus in Rwanda during a press conference in Kigali on Sunday, noting that 'continued vigilance is essential' despite a positive trend over the past week.
"We’re very pleased that there have been no new cases and deaths in the past six days, and I can see that the outbreak is being managed under strong leadership. But we are dealing with one of the world’s most dangerous viruses, and continued vigilance is essential," Tedros explained.
He further explained that three vaccines are being developed to fight the disease by scientists at Oxford University, Public Health Vaccines and IAVI.
New Marburg cases have been declining in Rwanda following a surge and several deaths recorded earlier this month.
The epidemic of the Marburg virus, similar to Ebola, is being curbed by a first experimental vaccine as well as a clinical trial of a treatment for patients.
Up to 80 per cent of those infected with the virus are healthcare workers who were in contact with infected people, according to a WHO report.
The report adds that 62 confirmed cases of the disease have been reported in the country since September 27, of which 15 were fatal, while 43 people have recovered.
The WHO still considers the risk of further spreading of the Marburg virus in Rwanda to be very high, but low on a global scale.
The Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention declared last week that the outbreak is now under control.
'Continued vigilance is essential' - WHO Director-General comments on response to Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda
The World Health Organisation's (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus commented on the spread of the Marburg virus in Rwanda during a press conference in Kigali on Sunday, noting that 'continued vigilance is essential' despite a positive trend over the past week.
"We’re very pleased that there have been no new cases and deaths in the past six days, and I can see that the outbreak is being managed under strong leadership. But we are dealing with one of the world’s most dangerous viruses, and continued vigilance is essential," Tedros explained.
He further explained that three vaccines are being developed to fight the disease by scientists at Oxford University, Public Health Vaccines and IAVI.
New Marburg cases have been declining in Rwanda following a surge and several deaths recorded earlier this month.
The epidemic of the Marburg virus, similar to Ebola, is being curbed by a first experimental vaccine as well as a clinical trial of a treatment for patients.
Up to 80 per cent of those infected with the virus are healthcare workers who were in contact with infected people, according to a WHO report.
The report adds that 62 confirmed cases of the disease have been reported in the country since September 27, of which 15 were fatal, while 43 people have recovered.
The WHO still considers the risk of further spreading of the Marburg virus in Rwanda to be very high, but low on a global scale.
The Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention declared last week that the outbreak is now under control.
Mandatory credit: WHO
The World Health Organisation's (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus commented on the spread of the Marburg virus in Rwanda during a press conference in Kigali on Sunday, noting that 'continued vigilance is essential' despite a positive trend over the past week.
"We’re very pleased that there have been no new cases and deaths in the past six days, and I can see that the outbreak is being managed under strong leadership. But we are dealing with one of the world’s most dangerous viruses, and continued vigilance is essential," Tedros explained.
He further explained that three vaccines are being developed to fight the disease by scientists at Oxford University, Public Health Vaccines and IAVI.
New Marburg cases have been declining in Rwanda following a surge and several deaths recorded earlier this month.
The epidemic of the Marburg virus, similar to Ebola, is being curbed by a first experimental vaccine as well as a clinical trial of a treatment for patients.
Up to 80 per cent of those infected with the virus are healthcare workers who were in contact with infected people, according to a WHO report.
The report adds that 62 confirmed cases of the disease have been reported in the country since September 27, of which 15 were fatal, while 43 people have recovered.
The WHO still considers the risk of further spreading of the Marburg virus in Rwanda to be very high, but low on a global scale.
The Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention declared last week that the outbreak is now under control.