OUTBREAK: Marburg Virus
Marburg Virus Outbreak in Rwanda - 2024
Disease
We bring together grant information on Marburg virus disease.
Research Categories
Charts showing Marburg virus disease grants assigned to twelve research categories with respective subcategories.
Geographical Distribution
Charts showing the location of funding organisations and where funding flows to support Marburg virus disease research activities.
Annual Trends
Charts for trends in research funding in Marburg virus disease and associated research categories.
Policy Roadmaps
Coming soon: Alignment of Marburg virus disease research grant data to outbreak specific research priorities.
Background
Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by the Marburg virus (MARV), belonging to the Filoviridae viral family. It was first discovered in 1967 after two simultaneous outbreaks occurred among laboratory workers in Germany and Serbia (formerly Yugoslavia). The laboratory workers were handling African Green Monkeys imported from Uganda. Since then, several MVD outbreaks have occurred predominantly in sub-Saharan Africa. Rousettus aegyptiactus bats are considered the natural animal reservoir for MARV and human infections have occurred after prolonged exposure to mines and caves where these bats live.
MVD can be a fatal disease with a case-fatality ratio of up to 88%. Clinical presentation is similar to Ebola virus disease. Infected individuals commonly develop fever, severe gastrointestinal symptoms, and haemorrhagic manifestations. MARV is transmitted via direct contact with an infected person’s (or animal’s) blood, bodily fluids, deceased body, or surfaces contaminated with these fluids, putting healthcare workers at increased risk. Among those who survive MVD, the MARV is known to persist in the placenta, breast milk, and semen. There are no licensed vaccines or therapeutics against MARV however, several medical countermeasures are in development.
Current Outbreak
On 27 September 2024, Rwanda declared its first outbreak of MVD. As of 29 September 2024, there have been 26 confirmed cases and eight deaths (CFR 31%) from 7/30 districts. The source of the infection remains unknown. Healthcare workers are most affected and account for 70% of the confirmed cases. Kigali, Rwanda’s capital city, has an international airport and a road network to East Africa, raising concern that confirmed cases within Kigali could lead to further spread. One contact of a confirmed case is already known to have traveled internationally.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has assessed the risk of this outbreak at a national level as ‘very high’, at a regional level as ‘high’, and at a global level as ‘low’. Rwanda and neighboring countries, with support from the WHO, are taking rapid actions, including engaging communities, to contain this outbreak. Further research is needed to support public health efforts.
For more information about the ongoing Marburg Virus Disease outbreak in Rwanda, click here.
Key public health and research updates
September 2024:
- Rwanda confirms cases of Marburg Virus Disease for the first time.
August 2024:
- The WHO published infection prevention and control research priorities in healthcare settings for Ebola and Marburg.
March 2024:
- The WHO published a Core Trial Protocol for a platform adaptive randomised trial for new and repurposed Filovirus treatments.
April 2023:
- The WHO Technical Advisory Group published candidate vaccines prioritised for inclusion in a Phase 1/2/3 study against MVD.
March 2023:
- The GloPID-R Research and Policy Team shared a ‘Marburg Outbreak Brief’ with its members (relating to an outbreak in Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea) which includes information from a rapid review of clinical trial registries. They found 12 active MARV research projects all of which were at the pre-clinical or basic science stage.
- A WHO R&D meeting with the MARVAC consortium was held to discuss medical countermeasures in development and integrating research during an outbreak.
February 2023:
- The WHO published a Marburg virus therapeutics and vaccine landscape outlining candidates in development.
- A systematic review by Rigby et al. (2023) on clinical management guidelines for high-priority viral haemorrhagic fevers found only two guidelines for MVD. Both were of limited scope and quality.
July 2022:
- A protocol for an international, randomized clinical trial platform based on a ring vaccination trial design, was developed by the Marburg Vaccine Trial Core Protocol Working Group.
June 2022:
- The WHO R&D blueprint team published a Strategic Research Agenda for Filovirus Research and Monitoring (WHO-AFIRM) which outlines a long-term global strategy for filovirus research and monitoring between 2021-2031.
Outbreak-Specific Research Priorities
The WHO R&D team published a Roadmap outlining research priorities for Ebola/Marburg in 2019. A more updated Strategic Research Agenda for Filovirus (2021-2031) was published in 2021. This outlines strategic goals and milestones for Filovirus research under three pillars: Anticipation (to prevent and control outbreaks), Reinforcement (to develop and evaluate vaccines), and Cure (to develop post-exposure therapies).
Relevant Links
- A WHO-Strategic Research Agenda for Filovirus. Research and Monitoring (WHO AFIRM). WHO-AFRIM Strategy Roadmap 2021-2031.
- Ebola/Marburg Research and Development (R&D) Roadmap. January 2019 – Advanced draft.
Clinical Trials Landscape
A review of the landscape of our funding data on clinical trials can be obtained by applying the filters: Disease =Marburg > Study type = Clinical > Research categories = Therapeutics research development and implementation AND/OR vaccines research development and implementation on the left-hand filter bar.
We have collated additional data from clinical trials registries. See our most up-to-date analyses here.
Pandemic PACT Data
See below our data visualisations for Marburg virus disease research funding, including alignment to the outbreak-specific research priorities. Visit our ‘Explore’ page and filter for Marburg to review the details of the research grants funded and their linked publications.
Global annual funding for research on diseases with a pandemic potential
Total number of grants and US dollars committed for each disease
Please note: Grants may fall under more than one disease. Funding amounts are included only when they have been published by the funder and are included within the year of the grant award start date.
Global Distribution of Grants by Research Area
The chart shows the total amount of funding allocated for different research areas for all diseases. Use filters on the left for advanced filtering depending on your interests. Use the 'View sub-categories' buttons to explore the sub-categories.
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Please note: Grants may fall under more than one research category, and funding amounts are included only when they have been published by the funder.
Global Map of Geographical Distribution of Funding Organisations OR Research Locations
The information on the research location was collected where available from the grant application, and can be different to the location of research institution. Click on a country to see country-specific grant information (including joint-funded grants).
Countries
WHO Regions
Please note: Funding amounts are included only when they have been published by the funder. Some research projects are undertaken in multiple locations (countries). Some are funded by multiple funders, the breakdown of joint-funded projects can be found when selecting a country and 'show joint-funded countries'. Where research location is not explicitly specified the default used is the location of the research institution receiving the funds.
Regional Flow of Research Grants
The chart illustrates the flow of research grants by region, tracing it from funder to research institution and ultimately to the location where the research is conducted.
If the full chart is not visible, please scroll horizontally to view.
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Please note: Funding amounts are included only when they have been published by the funder. Some research projects are undertaken in multiple locations (countries). Where research location is not explicitly specified the default used is the location of the research institution receiving the funds.
Annual Trends in New Global Grants for Research Areas
The chart shows the total amount of funding allocated to different research areas by calendar year of award start date.
Please note: Grants may fall under more than one research category. Funding amounts are included only when they have been published by the funder and are included within the year of the grant award start date.