The UK High Commissioner to Rwanda, Alison Heather Thorpe, told the media in Kigali on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, that the British government stands ready to assist Rwanda in responding to the health emergency through, among other measures, the provision of protective kits and medical experts.
"We are looking at a whole variety of measures, from the provision of kits, such as personal protective equipment and testing kits, to potentially sending out some epidemiologists and medical support staff," Thorpe stated.
She added, "We are also examining whether we have any vaccines under trial that we could develop. In fact, there's a team from Oxford University currently in the country supporting the WHO in their efforts."
"So we stand ready to help in whatever way we can. The government of Rwanda needs to tell us what they would most like from us, and then we can set our wheels in motion to deliver that."
The UK's support will complement efforts from other partners, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which has also offered to collaborate with the Rwandan government in the fight against Marburg.
CDC, the national public health agency of the United States, announced on Monday that it is deploying experts to assist Rwanda's investigation and response to the Marburg outbreak.
"The staff will use their experience from responding to outbreaks of Marburg virus disease and similar diseases in other countries to support epidemiology, contact tracing, laboratory testing, disease detection and control along borders, and hospital infection prevention and control," the CDC said in a statement.
Rwanda confirmed its first-ever Marburg outbreak six days ago, with 29 cases and 10 deaths reported as of Tuesday, October 1, 2024.
To control the spread of the virulent disease that causes hemorrhagic fever, the government has implemented several measures, including suspending hospital visits, banning wakes and home vigils (locally known as Ikiriyo) for Marburg-related deaths, and limiting burials for Marburg deaths to a maximum of 50 people.
Additionally, all healthcare facilities have been directed to implement a protocol for receiving and providing services to clients exhibiting symptoms of Marburg virus disease, with strict adherence to infection prevention and control (IPC) measures.
Currently, there are no vaccines or antiviral treatments approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) for Marburg virus disease. However, supportive careâ€"rehydration with oral or intravenous fluidsâ€"and treatment of specific symptoms can improve survival.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
