The Rwandan Presidency confirmed the development through its X account, noting that both leaders also "exchanged on various strategies to help enhance disease prevention as well as building increased capacity for manufacturing of vaccines and medical kits on the continent."
Dr. Kaseya is in Rwanda where he is attending the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) business forum, branded 'Biashara Africa.'
During his visit, he reassured the nation of Africa CDC's commitment to supporting Rwanda in its fight against the Marburg virus.
In addition to his meeting with President Kagame, Dr. Kaseya also held discussions with Rwanda's Minister of Health, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, commending the government's proactive approach to controlling the outbreak.
He expressed optimism that the virus would be contained soon, given the ongoing efforts.
Rwanda reported its first case of the Marburg virus on September 27, 2024. As of October 11, 58 people have been infected, with 15 having recovered. No new cases have been reported in the last two days.
Authorities have urged Rwandans to continue following preventive measures, such as avoiding close contact with symptomatic individuals and practicing proper hygiene.
In response to the outbreak, the government has also rolled out a vaccination program targeting high-risk individuals, with 346 doses administered so far.
The Marburg virus disease presents symptoms such as severe headaches, weakness, fever, watery diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Anyone experiencing these symptoms or observing them in others is encouraged to report to health authorities immediately.
Beyond addressing the current outbreak, Rwanda remains committed to long-term solutions for pandemic preparedness.
The BioNTech vaccine manufacturing plant, which began its first phase in Kigali in December 2023, is part of these efforts.
Once fully operational, the plant is expected to produce 50 million vaccine doses annually, significantly boosting the continent's capacity for disease prevention.
IGIHE
