In September 2024, Rwanda skilled its first-ever filovirus outbreak of Marburg Virus Illness, a extreme and sometimes deadly sickness with case fatality ranging between 24% to 88%. The outbreak was formally declared on 27 September 2024 following investigations right into a cluster of unexplained diseases and deaths in Kigali. The state of affairs posed a formidable public well being problem, with healthcare staff among the many most affected, highlighting vital gaps in an infection prevention and management (IPC) measures inside healthcare settings.
A Unified Response Pushed by Strategic Partnership
Led by the Ministry of Well being, Rwanda’s response was marked by speedy coordination and decisive motion, made attainable by means of the well timed assist of native and worldwide companions. The collaborative efforts of the World Well being Group (WHO), the European Union Humanitarian Support (ECHO), the UK’s International, Commonwealth and Growth Workplace (FCDO) and different improvement companions, in assist of the Authorities of Rwanda, enabled the swift mobilization and deployment of required groups of consultants, the procurement and distribution of vital provides, and the speedy capability constructing of frontline staff and different well being skilled, all inside days of the outbreak affirmation.
WHO performed a vital position by offering instant technical and operational help, which included private protecting tools (PPE), laboratory testing kits, case administration instruments, and logistical assist. Moreover, the group collaborated intently with nationwide authorities to reinforce outbreak coordination, strengthen surveillance techniques, and develop efficient threat communication methods.
Dr Brian Chirombo, WHO Consultant to Rwanda, highlighted the essential position of well timed interventions, stating, “The beneficiant funding from the ECHO and FCDO amongst different companions, was instrumental in guaranteeing the provision of important provides and empowering well being staff throughout a vital time. This assist enabled swift laboratory testing, enhanced safety for healthcare staff, and the supply of high quality affected person care, finally leading to improved well being outcomes.”
Fast Deployment of Important Consultants
On the request of Ministry of Well being, WHO mobilized a various group of extremely famend technical consultants to bolster Rwanda’s response throughout a number of vital areas. These areas included coordination, surveillance, laboratory operations, medical case administration, IPC, psychological well being and psychosocial assist (MHPSS), logistics, and threat communication and group engagement (RCCE). These deployments ensured that nationwide groups had entry to top-tier experience and operational steering tailor-made to the particular wants on the bottom.
Moreover, 39 professionals from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Uganda with expertise in efficiently managing filovirus outbreaks, had been introduced in by means of WHO’s AVoHC-SURGE programme, to work alongside Rwandan groups. Their contributions had been particularly essential given the loss and sickness of many native well being staff early within the outbreak. These frontline consultants performed a pivotal position in addressing human useful resource gaps, reinforcing IPC measures, and enhancing service supply.
This deployment exemplified the facility of South-to-South collaboration. Regional solidarity, shared expertise, and cultural familiarity enabled swift, efficient and contextually acceptable responses—providing a compelling mannequin for future emergency preparedness and response efforts throughout Africa and past.
Scaling Up Coaching and Readiness
With the assist of WHO, funding from ECHO and FCDO and in collaboration with different companions, the Ministry of Well being carried out in depth coaching initiatives for healthcare staff throughout all ranges of the well being system—from specialised hospitals and district hospitals to group well being facilities, Factors of Entry (POEs), and the broader group. These initiatives targeted on early detection, case identification, protected affected person dealing with, greatest practices in IPC, and group engagement. Moreover, up to date pointers and customary working procedures had been developed and disseminated, guaranteeing a constant and harmonized method to containment and safety. This complete technique notably benefited healthcare staff, enhancing the quality-of-service supply.
Exemplary Partnership in Motion
Rwanda’s profitable containment of the Marburg Virus Illness outbreak, attaining the bottom case fatality charge of twenty-two.7% amongst Marburg outbreaks in Africa, is a testomony to the facility of robust, coordinated partnerships. The collaborative response—led by the Ministry of Well being and supported by WHO, ECHO, FCDO and different companions—demonstrated how strategic collaboration can rework a possible disaster right into a managed and well timed response.
This expertise underscores the vital significance of continued funding in well being safety, preparedness, and resilience. As Rwanda builds on the teachings realized and strengthens its public well being techniques, the Marburg response stands as each a nationwide achievement and a regional mannequin for collective motion within the face of future infectious illness threats.
Technical Contact
Dr Lyndah Makayoto, makayotol [at] who.int (makayotol[at]who[dot]int)