A team from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is in Rwanda to support a study on Marburg virus immunity among recovered patients, health officials said.
The research, led by the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) and Rwandan research organization Rinda Ubuzima, aims to better understand how the human body responds to Marburg virus infection. Findings could help develop new diagnostic tests, treatments, and vaccines, the RBC said.
The study comes just over a month after Rwanda declared its first Marburg virus outbreak over. The hemorrhagic disease, confirmed on Sept. 27, resulted in 66 cases and 15 deaths.
Researchers will analyze immune responses in recovered patients and their close contacts, focusing on key markers such as antibodies, B cells, and T cells that may indicate protection against future infections, according to the RBC.
The study’s findings will play a crucial role in advancing the first safe and effective Marburg virus vaccines and improving clinical care for the highly lethal disease.