The fatality rate for the disease is usually 88%, but during a recent outbreak in Rwanda, deaths were kept to 23%. A new approach based on studying miners may be the reason whyIn a tin mine in a Kigali suburb, just 20 minutes’ drive from the heart of the Rwandan capital, the sounds of chittering and fluttering come from behind a padlocked door. It bears a sign: “Beware of the bat.”The 10,000-strong bat colony in this tunnel harbours a deadly virus, and last year workers carried it out along with the rocks they mined. Continue reading...
In 2024, a Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda killed 15 people and infected 51, prompting international alerts. The source was traced to the Gamico Mining site near Kigali, where a bat colony resides. The Egyptian fruit bat, the principal reservoir for the virus, was identified as the likely source. The mine's tunnel 12, where bats roosted, was closed, and buffer zones were established to prevent human-bat contact. Miners were screened, and experimental vaccines and treatments were used. Researchers continue to study bat behavior and virus presence, with ongoing efforts to prevent future spillover events. The outbreak highlighted the need for vigilance in bat habitats and the importance of early detection and response.
