The Africa CDC has announced that the current outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) in Rwanda is expected to come to a close soon.
As of October 30, Rwanda has not reported any new MVD-positive cases, with the last patient discharged on November 8, as stated by the CDC in a press briefing. By November 29, the country recorded a total of 66 cases and 15 fatalities associated with the Marburg outbreak.
Ngashi Ngongo, an epidemiology professor and principal advisor to the director general of Africa CDC, highlighted that the essential 42-day countdown to officially declare the end of the outbreak ends tomorrow.
“This milestone is largely attributed to the prompt and coordinated actions spearheaded by the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with Africa CDC and various critical partners,” Ngongo stated.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) characterizes “Marburg virus disease, previously known as Marburg hemorrhagic fever,” as “a severe, often fatal illness in humans.”
Initially transmitted to humans from fruit bats, the virus is spread through human-to-human contact. Currently, there are no approved vaccines for MVD. Recent outbreaks have also occurred in Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea, resulting in six and thirty-five additional deaths, respectively, in 2023.
Ngongo underscored the vital role of national surveillance systems that enable early case detection, enhanced contact tracing, case isolation, and the expansion of treatment facilities that have helped manage the outbreak.
“It is important to note that due to these interventions, especially the high care standards in treatment facilities, Rwanda recorded one of the lowest case fatality rates (sic) at 22.7%, significantly lower than previous outbreaks,” Ngongo commented.
Moreover, extensive awareness campaigns focused on educating the public on preventative measures were executed as part of the initiative to curb the virus’s spread.
Concerns Regarding mpox and Unidentified Febrile Illness
Meanwhile, the ongoing threats from other diseases remain a significant concern for both African and global communities, according to Africa CDC.
This includes mpox (formerly known as monkeypox), which is currently experiencing a rise, especially in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi.
The WHO defines mpox as a viral disease that “primarily spreads through close contact with an infected individual, causing painful rashes, swollen lymph nodes, and fever,” which can lead to scarring and additional health issues. The disease can also be transmitted from animals to humans.
Transmission generally occurs through contact with bodily fluids, skin lesions or lesions on mucosal surfaces, respiratory droplets, and contaminated objects.
Since 2022, mpox has spread globally, affecting more countries.
In the DRC, 53,109 mpox cases have been reported to date, with roughly 1,251 related deaths. This week alone, 2,632 new cases were reported, an increase from 2,549 the week prior.
Advancements in mpox Vaccination Efforts
Nevertheless, Ngongo, who also serves as the continental incident manager for Mpox at Africa CDC, pointed out the ongoing progress in vaccination initiatives against mpox. Africa CDC has pledged to distribute 10 million doses of the mpox vaccine by the end of 2025.
An update indicated that the vaccination for the second dose in the DRC commenced on November 28, 2024, with 11,000 people vaccinated in Tshopo, Sankuru, and Sud Kivu by December 19.
The Japanese government is poised to deliver 50,000 vaccine doses to Kinshasa this week, and Japanese experts are in discussions with DRC officials to streamline vaccine distribution and address logistical challenges, particularly in remote areas.
A Continental mpox Response Intra-Action Review (IAR) was held by Africa CDC and the WHO in Addis Ababa, concluding on Wednesday. Participant countries included Burundi, the Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, DRC, Kenya, Liberia, Uganda, Nigeria, and South Africa.
The action plan emphasized enhancing resource mobilization, improving data management systems, and expediting vaccination efforts and country support for the nations most affected.
