Marburg virus outbreak redirects students to online learning
RWANDA
Mount Kigali University has become the first higher learning institution in Rwanda to announce the suspension of contact classes in a bid to curb the potential spread of the Marburg virus.
On 30 September, the university decided to continue with online classes while health authorities monitor the virus outbreak. This came shortly after the ministry of education on 27 September made an official announcement declaring the outbreak, stating that it is the first time the virus has been detected in Rwanda.
In a televised speech, Minister of Health Dr Sabin Nsanzimana said then that six people had died of the Marburg virus while another 20 patients, mostly from health facilities in the capital city, Kigali, were still under intensive care.
According to a World Health Organization (WHO) report on 28 September, 26 cases were confirmed.
“Cases of the virus have been reported in seven of the country’s 30 districts. Twenty cases are in isolation and receiving treatment, while 161 people who came into contact with the reported cases have, so far, been identified and are being monitored as the authorities ramp up comprehensive response measures and deepen investigation to determine the origin of the infection,” the WHO report stated.
According to the Rwandan Ministry of Health, 10 deaths had occurred by 30 September.
Measures at Mount Kigali University
As the country braces itself for more measures to prevent the spread of the virus, Mount Kigali University, one of the leading private universities in Rwanda, said that the suspension of the physical classes was the first of its preventive measures against the spread of the Marburg virus.
“All students and teaching staff are informed that all classes from 2-8 October will be conducted [online]. New students and staff will be trained to use Microsoft Teams on 1 October 2024,” a circular, signed by Francis Mwangi, the university’s academic registrar, said.
“Recreational activities at the university, including all sports and swimming, are suspended,” it added.
The circular noted that other services in the university would continue as usual, but cautioned the university population to practise stringent personal hygiene measures, including the frequent washing and sanitising of hands.
The university has also postponed scheduled continuous assessments to further dates that would be announced later.
What the disease is
Marburg virus disease (MVD), formerly known as Marburg haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal, illness in humans. It is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through human-to-human transmission, according to the WHO.
The virus causes severe viral haemorrhagic fever in humans and the fatality rate is about 50%.
“Case fatality rates have varied from 24% to 88% in past outbreaks, depending on virus strain and case management. Early supportive care with rehydration and symptomatic treatment improves survival. There is as yet no licensed treatment proven to neutralise the virus, but a range of blood products, immune therapies and drug therapies are currently under development,” according to the WHO.
Precautions include avoiding close contact with symptomatic people and observing or enhancing hygiene, according to the ministry.
Following the outbreak confirmation, the ministry of health halted visits to hospitals in the next two weeks and allowed one caregiver at a time to ensure no more cases are recorded in health facilities.
“All healthcare facilities are required to implement a protocol for receiving and providing services to clients exhibiting symptoms of Marburg disease through the careful application of infection prevention and control measures,” the ministry said in a communique released on Sunday, 29 September 2024.
“In the event of death caused by Marburg, wakes and home vigils will not be permitted, to prevent the spread of the virus. Funeral services, where the cause of death was determined to be Marburg, will be limited to 50 people,” it added.
Universities are ready
Various universities and higher learning institutions have tightened measures to curb the spread of the disease.
According to Professor Callixte Kabera, the vice-chancellor of the East African University and the president of the Association of Private Universities and Higher Learning Institutions, universities are cautious about the outbreak, and measures are in place.
“Of course, we have activated the Marburg command post by putting up washing stations and placing sanitisers at every corner. Sensitisation campaigns are also working and all platforms of communication are activated,” he said.
He added that the universities were following the guidance of the competent authorities and were ready to respect any guidelines about curbing the spread of the disease.
“We are following guidance from competent authorities. So far, there are no signs so alarming that we need to suspend courses, but if requested based on their assessment, all measures are ready to be reactivated,” he added.
Students from the affected university said they were suddenly informed of the suspension and are concerned about whether it would hold back their learning if online learning is extended.
“We are used to physical classes but we were surprised by the decision to suspend them and introduce virtual classes, which always have issues linked to internet connectivity and teaching methods,” said Beatrice Umuhire, a second-year finance student.
