Rwanda confirms it has eradicated the Marburg epidemic completely!On Friday, November 20, 2024, Rwanda announced that it had completely eradicated the Marburg epidemic and thanked those involved and the health sector for their efforts in making this happen.The Rwandan government officially declared the Marburg epidemic over after 42 days without a new patient after the last patient was discharged from hospital.

The Ministry of Health expressed its satisfaction with this step taken in the health sector in Rwanda as confirmed by the Minister of Health, Dr. Sabin Nsanzima.

He said: “This is a remarkable step forward in the health sector in Rwanda. And while we remember those who lost their lives, we are also grateful for what has been achieved.”Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana also announced that health authorities have been able to identify the source of the virus, and that efforts are continuing to track it down.”

We achieved this goal thanks to the hard work and determination of health workers, the Government, and our partners, who worked together to coordinate their efforts and made it possible to successfully overcome this pandemic.

“The Ministry also says that the end of this disease has strengthened the commitment and capacity of the Rwandan health sector, as well as its ability to respond quickly to other epidemics that may arise in the future.

The Ministry of Health also announces that since the outbreak of the virus in the country, Rwanda has been quick to put in place strategies to combat it, which are being implemented 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with the establishment of monitoring, testing, monitoring of those exposed to the virus, and vaccination.”

These joint measures by the Government, health workers and partners were aimed at ensuring that this epidemic is monitored and stopped,” he said.The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the disease will be over in about 42 days, when no new cases are detected.Since the Marburg disease arrived in Rwanda in September 2024, it has infected and spread to 66 people, killing 15 people and recovering from 51.