Rwanda and WHO Announce End of Marburg Virus Outbreak

The outbreak, which began in September, claimed 15 lives but was contained through rapid response and international collaboration.

Rwanda's Marburg virus outbreak, first declared on September 27, has officially ended after 42 days without new cases, meeting WHO criteria for outbreak resolution.
The outbreak resulted in 66 confirmed cases, 15 deaths, and 51 recoveries, with healthcare workers among the most affected early on.
Rwanda's swift response included strict infection control, contact tracing, and the use of an experimental vaccine, which was administered to over 1,700 high-risk individuals within weeks of the outbreak's start.
The country achieved the lowest-ever mortality rate for a Marburg outbreak in Africa, at under 23%, compared to the virus's typical fatality rate of up to 88%.
Health officials emphasize ongoing vigilance, noting the virus's origin in fruit bats and the potential for future outbreaks, while Rwanda continues to build epidemic preparedness strategies.