According to WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, this achievement marks a major milestone in Marburg virus care, as these patients would likely have succumbed to the disease in previous outbreaks.
'We believe this is the first time patients with Marburg virus have been extubated in Africa. These patients would have died in previous outbreaks. I commend Rwanda's health system for its preparedness and life-saving interventions,' Tedros said, citing a recent incident where two patients successfully recovered.
The WHO boss was speaking at a joint presser with Rwanda's Ministry of Health held on October 20, 2024, attended by various partners and stakeholders in the health sector. He recognized Rwanda's ability to contain the deadly virus, a feat achieved through strategic measures and effective health interventions.
'We're pleased to see that there have been no new cases in the past six days. And we hope that remains the case,' said Tedros, highlighting the aptitude to provide critical care for Marburg patients.
The country has not seen any new cases in the past six days thereby reducing the number of active cases to three with 43 recoveries. Out of the 4715 tests conducted so far, the Ministry of Health has recorded 62 confirmed cases, 44 recoveries, 15 deaths (predominantly health service providers) and a fatality rate of 24.2%.
Tedros also lauded Rwanda's long-term investments in healthcare, which have strengthened its capacity to manage such crises. He emphasized that the country's health infrastructure now allows it to offer critical care that is deployed both in routine medical situations and in emergencies.
He acknowledged the international collaboration in Rwanda's fight against Marburg. Rwanda has initiated trials for vaccines and therapeutics and these efforts, according to Tedros, demonstrate the country's forward-thinking approach to pandemic preparedness and the country's hard work towards reaching WHO's maturity level 3 in its regulatory framework.
He expressed satisfaction with the available technological advancements in tracking and controlling the outbreak, noting that the National Command Center's use of real-time information systems was crucial in coordinating the response.
'We believe these strategic investments will address the equity problems we faced during COVID-19,' he said.
Even though the WHO chief warned that vigilance must continue until the outbreak is officially declared over, he urged countries not to impose travel or trade restrictions on Rwanda, as they are unnecessary and could harm the country's economy.
'We ask those countries which have imposed travel restrictions to reverse them,' he said, ensuring that Rwanda's leadership in this outbreak response is recognized and supported by the global community.
The WHO's praise for Rwanda's achievements reinforces the country's growing reputation as a leader in healthcare innovation and emergency response on the African continent.
Rwanda's Minister of Health Dr Sabin Nsanzimana, echoed WHO's recognition of the country's progress, highlighting the significant milestone as a clear sign of the outbreak being brought under control.
'We've had zero infections and zero deaths consecutively for six days, which is a continuous improvement. This has been as a result of rigorous testing, contact tracing, and treatment strategies,' he said, expressing optimism that Rwanda could be soon be declared Marburg free.
'A critical aspect of Rwanda's success has been its high level of care for patients, including life-saving interventions. The case fatality rate that stands at 24 is a reflection of the dedication of healthcare workers,' the Minister noted, underscoring the teamwork involved in saving lives.
In addition to critical care, Rwanda has taken proactive steps to vaccinate over 1,000 frontline healthcare workers and contacts of Marburg patients. This has provided an additional layer of protection and reassurance for those at the forefront of the fight against the virus.
The WHO standards and regulations stipulate that in case of an outbreak such as this, once there are no more patients in the treatment Centre and no new cases emerge, a country can be declared virus free after a period of 42 days.
The Rwandan government continues to work together with various partners to ensure that no cases are missed, and measures remain in place until the outbreak is fully contained.
Sam K Nkurunziza
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/rwanda-makes-history-in-marburg-patient-treatment-who-reports
