Several international organizations operating in the Mahama refugee camp have suspended their activities following the outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus in Rwanda. Refugees are urged to observe preventive measures against the disease.

INFO SOS Médias Burundi

The UNHCR offices are temporarily closed, as are those of the IOM (International Organization for Migration) and the Save The Children play and support centers. This is at a time when these three organizations are responsible for almost all the daily activities on which the lives of more than 65,000 refugees living in this camp depend.

An isolation site has also been set up in village 11, and pre-school activities for children aged 6 months to two years (Day Care) that were taking place there have been temporarily suspended.

The clinics have significantly reduced the number of patients admitted each day to limit congest and crowding.

An emergency meeting was held for local leaders from all villages and community representatives to prepare them for the drastic measures to come.

The camp manager, an official from the Ministry of Refugees (Minema), told them that life goes on but that people must observe preventive measures against the deadly Marburg virus.

“Let people be calm, go about their activities while being more vigilant to avoid handshaking. They are advised to observe social distancing as in the time of the Coronavirus. But above all, report any suspected case of acute fever, vomiting, diarrhea and severe headaches,” he insisted.

“And then prepare people for drastic measures that may arise because the situation is evolving very quickly and is unpredictable,” he warned.

This large refugee camp in Rwanda is listed among the high-risk public places because it contains many people who live in a dense manner.

Declared on September 27 in Rwanda, the Marburg virus worries the World Health Organization WHO, which warns of the risk at the national and regional levels at a time when cases of Marburg have been discovered in districts bordering Uganda, Tanzania and the DRC, three countries bordering Rwanda.

The WHO has committed to supporting Rwanda to limit the damage while the virus kills up to 80% of infected cases.

The evidence is that, according to official figures, Rwanda has already recorded up to this Wednesday, 11 deaths in less than a week, 25 patients are under treatment in isolation out of more than 300 suspected cases.

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A health center at the Mahama refugee camp in Rwanda (SOS Médias Burundi)