US ships Marburg vaccines to Rwanda after 11 die in outbreak

The U.S. completed its first shipment of vaccines and therapeutic drugs for Marburg disease to Rwanda on Oct. 4. According to Thierry Roels, U.S. CDC Country Director in Rwanda, the U.S. is collaborating with Rwanda’s health ministry and international partners to initiate clinical trials. According to Reuters, additional shipments may be sent to support the trials. Rwanda reported its first Marburg outbreak in late September, with 36 cases and 11 deaths, and the disease has a fatality rate of up to 88%.