In September 2024, Rwanda declared an outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD), marking a critical moment for the nation’s public health system. One year into the response, we reflect on Rwanda’s strategies, successes and challenges, and the evolving scientific understanding of MVD. The swift, coordinated efforts demonstrated the country’s resilience and capacity for effective outbreak management, resulting in a case fatality rate of approximately 23%, a remarkable improvement compared with the 88% fatality rate reported in previous outbreaks globally1.
A total of 66 patients were identified, with most cases and deaths, including postmortem diagnoses, occurring within the first 2 weeks after the outbreak was declared1,2. Notably, the outbreak was largely contained within two referral hospitals in Kigali, with 77% of the cases, primarily healthcare workers, highlighting both the occupational risks and the effectiveness of targeted containment measures. The outbreak was officially declared over on 20 December 2024, following 42 consecutive days without new cases, in line with Would Health Organization (WHO) criteria for outbreak closure.
