Marburg Virus Outbreak in Rwanda
USAID stands with Rwanda as the country mounts a rapid and effective response to the Marburg virus outbreak.
“We are all in this together, and only by working together can we help stop the Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda and protect our communities. Let’s stay united, vigilant and safe,” says USAID Mission Director Keisha L. Effiom.
In this challenging time, the United States remains a trusted partner, here to provide immediate assistance, but also to help mitigate the long-term impact of the outbreak. Our USAID team is working with the Ministry of Health and RBC to assess the needs and provide critical support. We will share updates with more information about the details of our support on our X account and on our Facebook account
Meanwhile, we encourage everyone to remain vigilant and informed, and to follow the guidance of the Rwandan Ministry of Health and the authoritative organizations such as World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
All photos related to our Marburg Virus Response are available for download here. This album is updated several times a day.
Timeline of Assistance
October 01 evening: 500 personal protection equipment (PPE) sets arrived at the Kigali International Airport. The shipment came from the USAID stockpile of emergency supplies managed by WHO in Nairobi, Kenya. It is scheduled for immediate handover to Rwanda Medical Supply and distribution.
October 02 noon: 500 personal protective equipment (PPE) units handed over to officials of the Ministry of Health at the warehouse of Rwanda Medical Supply in Kigali.
October 02 late evening: 270 PCR tests for Marburg and 2,500 sample collection kits arrived at the Kigali International Airport. The kits originate from the USAID stockpile of emergency supplies managed by WHO in Dubai, UAE. It was immediately delivered to the Rwanda National Laboratory and RBC in Kigali.
October 5-7: Support to the Ministry of Health to establish the Marburg Command Post.
October 8: US $1.35 million of USAID funding directed to support the Marburg response in Rwanda. Read the full press release here. This funding will be used for the following activities:
- surveillance, case management and infection prevention and control;
- water, sanitation and hygiene in the affected and cross-border districts,
- risk communication,
- support to community health workers;
- safe and dignified burials,
- mapping and surveillance of Marburg viral disease animal hosts,
- trap and sample bat colonies,
- protect tourism by training park staff in infection prevention and control,
- provide hand washing and personal protection equipment to parks to avoid spillover of Marburg viral disease (MVD) to park animals, and
- train veterinarians and park staff on MVD.
October 15 late evening: 1,440 Marburg PCR test kits, purchased by USAID, have arrived in Kigali thanks to an excellent collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO). Kept on very low temperatures, these test kits were quickly moved to RBC's National Laboratory and stored in freezers, from where they will be put to immediate use.
October 16 late evening: 1,000 extraction kits arrived in Kigali. Originating from a USAID emergency stockpile managed by WHO, RBC staff whisked off the supplies from the airport straight to the Rwanda National Reference Laboratory.
October 23: USAID gives US $7 million in additional funds to help end the Marburg Virus Disease outbreak in Rwanda. Read the full press release. CLICK TO TWEET THIS UPDATE
