11th Marburg Disease Death Reported, Vaccine Clinical Trials Starting in Rwanda

The Republic of Rwanda Ministry of Health posted on X that the death toll from the recent Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak has reached eleven out of 36 confirmed cases. 

As of October 2, 2024, about 26 additional people are in isolation from this rare viral hemorrhagic fever in Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda, which has a population exceeding 1.7 million.

As of September 30, 2024, the World Helath Organization (WHO) assessed the risk of this MVD outbreak as very high at the national level, high at the regional level, and low at the global level.

The WHO says the source of this MVD outbreak, geographical extent, likely onset date, and additional epidemiological information on cases are still pending further investigation. Rwanda declared its initial MVD outbreak on September 27, 2024.

According to the AP, Rwandan Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana said that vaccine clinical trials would start “within days” but failed to clarify which type of vaccine will be used.

As of October 3, 2024, various Marburg vaccine candidates are conducting studies. For example:

Public Health Vaccines, LLC launched its Phase 1 clinical trial in March 2024, evaluating its single-dose vaccine candidate, PHV01 (rVSV∆G-MARV-GP [Angola]).

On April 15, 2024, the U.S. FDA granted orphan drug designation to the active ingredient in MarVax™, the subunit protein vaccine of recombinantly expressed MARV glycoprotein, for "the prevention and post-exposure prophylaxis against MARV infection.

The U.S. CDC's recent travel advisory remains in effect, which states If you travel to the Republic of Rwanda, you should:

Avoid contact with sick people with fever, muscle pain, and rash symptoms.

Avoid contact with blood and other body fluids.

Avoid visiting healthcare facilities in the outbreak area for nonurgent medical care or for non-medical reasons.