WHO or international public health policy announcements

Rwanda Declares End of Marburg Outbreak After Discharging Last Patient; Nearly 80% of Cases Involved Doctors and Nurses

Nov 14, 2024, 02:40 PM

Rwanda has officially declared the end of its outbreak of the highly virulent Marburg virus, with no new cases reported for nearly two weeks. The announcement was made by the country's health minister, who noted that the last patient was discharged about a week ago, leading to the closure of the treatment center. The outbreak saw almost 80 percent of cases involving doctors and nurses, highlighting the significant risks faced by medical personnel. Efforts to contain the virus included rapid deployment of response teams, close monitoring of contacts, and the implementation of infection prevention measures. Training programs were established in hospitals to ensure proper protocols for testing and isolation of symptomatic individuals, along with the provision of personal protective equipment. Health officials emphasized that recovery is possible with the best available treatment, and the outbreak has contributed valuable insights to science.