Rwanda has launched a new vaccine trial as part of its ongoing battle against a deadly outbreak of the Marburg virus. The country received 700 doses of an experimental vaccine from the U.S.-based Sabin Vaccine Institute, with inoculations beginning on Saturday.
According to the institute, “Approximately 700 high-risk adults, starting with healthcare workers, will receive the vaccine at six clinical trial sites in Rwanda, as per the approved protocol.”
The single-dose vaccine is currently undergoing phase two trials in Uganda and Kenya, where no safety issues have been reported, the institute added.
The Marburg virus, a highly lethal hemorrhagic fever similar to Ebola, has claimed 12 lives since the outbreak was declared on September 27. Rwanda’s health ministry reported 49 confirmed cases in its latest update on Sunday.
The virus is thought to originate in fruit bats and is transmitted through contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals or contaminated surfaces, such as bedding. Authorities are racing to contain the spread of the virus, and the vaccine trial is seen as a crucial step in combating the outbreak.
Related articles:
UK Doctor Admits to Attempted Murder, Injecting Poison Disguised
What Does Rotavirus Poop Look Like?
What Can You Give A Newborn For A Cold?
