Submission ID 118243
| Issue/Objective | Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) is a severe hemorrhagic fever with fatality rates ranging from 33% to 88%, presenting a recurrent threat across sub-Saharan Africa. On September 27, 2024, Rwanda confirmed its first-ever MVD outbreak. This study assessed Rwanda's initial 10-day response, identifying key strengths and gaps in outbreak management. |
|---|---|
| Methodology/Approach | An observational review was conducted using publicly available data from the Rwanda Ministry of Health and Rwanda Biomedical Center between September 27 and October 7, 2024. Data included confirmed cases, deaths, recoveries, and healthcare response efforts. Daily screenings at checkpoints and border entry points were also analyzed to assess testing coverage and surveillance. |
| Results | As of October 7, 2024, Rwanda reported 56 confirmed cases, 12 deaths, and 8 recoveries. Over 70% of cases were healthcare workers. Mass screening began on October 3, and by October 7, a total of 2,387 individuals had been tested, with a positivity rate of 2.3%. Notably, six deaths occurred within the first 72 hours, accounting for half of all deaths. No new deaths were recorded between October 4 and October 7. The response strategy included rapid case detection, intensive critical care, experimental therapeutics (e.g., monoclonal antibodies and remdesivir), and robust contact tracing. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | The first 10 days of analysis of the MVD outbreak in Rwanda offer valuable insights into effective outbreak response, emphasizing the critical role of early interventions, healthcare worker protection, enhanced testing, and international collaboration. Early detection and intensive management of positive cases, including advanced critical care management and strong laboratory infrastructure, are essential to avoid or reduce mortality rates within the first 10 days of outbreak declaration. Policy implications derived from these findings emphasize the need to strengthen the first national healthcare systems by establishing rapid preparedness and response mechanisms prior to the outbreak. Additionally, fostering international partnerships to enhance outbreak preparedness and management with rapid mobilization and preparedness to reduce fatalities and control the spread of MVD. As the global health community continues to learn from Rwanda's efforts, these lessons can be applied in their daily practice to improve responses to future viral outbreaks. |
| Presenters and affiliations | Umwali Angelique stewardship agribusiness incubation center(SAIC) Munana Steven society for Family Health (SFH), Kigali, Rwanda Gashaija Absolomon Centre for Impact, Innovation and Capacity building for Health Information Systems and Nutrition (CIIC-HIN), Kigali, Rwanda |
