Rwanda’s Minister of State for Health, Dr. Yvan Butera, announced promising developments in the country’s fight against the Marburg virus but cautioned that the outbreak is still active. He shared optimism about the progress, noting, “We are headed in that direction,” but stressed that vigilance remains critical. Since the outbreak began over a month ago, Rwanda’s epidemiological data has shown a gradual reduction in cases, marking a hopeful trend towards containment.
During an online briefing, Dr. Butera reported that in the past two weeks, only two deaths were recorded, while 14 individuals have recovered. The minister highlighted Rwanda’s ongoing efforts to curb the virus, with expanded testing capacity and more than 16,000 people now vaccinated. “Rapid testing and detection” remain key priorities, Butera emphasized, as the country intensifies its efforts to control the virus.
Marburg virus, which spreads through close human contact or contact with infected animals, has a fatality rate exceeding 50%, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Rwanda saw its highest surge in cases within the first two weeks of the outbreak, but a sharp decline followed, with around 60 cases still being managed nationwide.
Meanwhile, in a parallel update, Dr. Ngashi Ngongo from the Africa Centers for Disease Control (Africa CDC) provided insight into other infectious disease challenges in the region, specifically mpox, which has now spread to 19 countries, with Mauritius being the latest to confirm a case. While countries like Cameroon, South Africa, Guinea, and Gabon have seen no recent cases, Uganda recently reported its first mpox death—one of only two fatalities recorded outside Central Africa. Dr. Ngongo noted an upward trend in cases in Liberia and Uganda, cautioning that “the situation is not yet under control.”
As Rwanda continues to tackle Marburg and other nations in the region grapple with mpox, health officials urge continued vigilance, testing, and public health measures to curb the spread of these highly infectious diseases.
