Rwanda has initiated the 42-day countdown to declare the end of its Marburg virus outbreak following the discharge of the last patient on November 8, 2024. The country has not reported any new confirmed cases since October 30, 2024, marking a hopeful milestone in the fight against the deadly disease.
Health authorities will continue monitoring the contacts of the discharged patient, as well as those of previously released individuals, throughout their 21-day observation period. The outbreak can only be officially declared over if no new infections are reported within 42 days after the last confirmed case tests negative.
Despite a week without new cases, health officials remain vigilant. The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with nearly 60,000 community health workers, is intensifying active case searches and testing suspected cases to ensure no transmission is missed.
The Marburg outbreak, declared on September 27, 2024, has caused 66 cases and 15 deaths. Nearly 80% of those infected were healthcare workers, many of whom contracted the virus while providing care to patients. Swift government action has prevented further community transmission, despite the virus initially spreading in two major Kigali hospitals and within the family of one of the first cases.
Supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and international partners, Rwanda’s health response involved deploying rapid response teams, contact tracing, and stringent infection prevention measures. These efforts reduced the number of confirmed cases by half between weeks two and three, with a 90% decrease afterward.
Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, Rwanda’s Minister of Health, emphasized that the outbreak highlights the effectiveness of proper treatment and the importance of ongoing surveillance to prevent future outbreaks.
Marburg, related to the Ebola virus, has a fatality rate of up to 88%. Transmitted by fruit bats and spread through direct contact with infected bodily fluids, the virus lacks a specific cure, but supportive care, including rehydration, improves survival rates.
Dr. Brian Chirombo, WHO Representative in Rwanda, commended Rwanda’s response, saying, “Rwanda’s efforts have been exemplary, and the WHO remains committed to supporting the final steps to officially declare the outbreak over.”
