Rwanda is set to officially declare the end of its Marburg Virus Disease outbreak on Friday, December 20, after no new infections were reported for 42 days.
The World Health Organization (WHO) considers an outbreak over when no new cases are reported for two incubation periods, or 42 days, following the last confirmed case. According to the Ministry of Health, the country has not recorded any new cases since October 31. As of December 18, 47 days had passed without a new infection, and 41 days since the last patient was discharged.
Rwanda confirmed its first-ever Marburg virus outbreak on September 27. The virus, which claimed 15 lives, had a fatality rate of 22.7%, the lowest recorded in any Marburg outbreak. The disease’s fatality rate has reached as high as 88% in previous outbreaks.
The Ministry of Health reported no further deaths after October 15. The outbreak has been described as the third largest in history.
Rwanda’s successful management of the outbreak, including early detection and response, is credited with preventing further spread.
