The Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda is showing signs of decline, with a 92% reduction in new infections reported, according to Health Minister Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana.
During a media briefing with World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Sunday, October 20, Nsanzimana highlighted a 50% decrease in new infections during the third week of the outbreak as a key indicator that the crisis is nearing an end.
Since the first Marburg case was confirmed in Rwanda on September 27, health authorities have reported a total of 62 cases. Notably, no new cases have emerged in the past six days, which Nsanzimana described as “a very encouraging trend.”
“The first two weeks were stagnant as we worked to understand the full scope of the virus,” he said. “But we saw a 50% decline in week three, giving us hope that this outbreak could be contained quickly.”
He added that the latest data indicates an even more promising trend, with infections down by 92%. The number of fatalities has remained at 15, while recoveries have continued to decline.
“In the last six days, we have had zero new infections and zero deaths,” Dr. Nsanzimana emphasized the need for ongoing vigilance. “Even if we had one case, it would be an opportunity to trace every single contact before we declare an end to this outbreak.”
Dr. Tedros expressed optimism about the situation, noting, “We’re pleased to see that there have been no new cases in the past six days, and we hope that remains the case.” He added that most patients in treatment are now testing negative and are expected to be discharged soon.
The minister reported that most patients affected by the virus are young adults, typically aged 30 to 35, many of whom are healthcare workers.
Daily reports on the outbreak have been critical for tracking its decline, according to Nsanzimana. “This is the best way to observe the trend and monitor how quickly we can bring this outbreak to an end,” he said.
He also noted that the outbreak has primarily been confined to a cluster involving three main locations: King Faisal Hospital, the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK), and the index case. “This is what you’ve seen in our daily updates — a hospital cluster,” he said, indicating the virus has not spread widely in the community.
As of October 19, the Ministry of Health had confirmed a total of 62 Marburg virus cases, with 44 recoveries and 15 deaths. Three patients remain in treatment and isolation. A total of 4,715 tests have been conducted, and 1,070 vaccine doses administered. The case fatality rate stands at 24.2%, with all reported cases linked to known transmission chains, ensuring 100% traceability, officials said.
