Marburg Virus Disease in Rwanda — Centering Both Evidence and Equity

This perspective explores Rwanda’s successful containment of a 2024 Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak, the third-largest in history. Rwanda achieved a 77% survival rate—unprecedented for an MVD outbreak—by integrating genomic surveillance, universal access to high-quality care, and rapid deployment of experimental vaccines and therapeutics. The author emphasizes how this effort, led by local clinicians and informed by lessons from previous outbreaks in Angola and West Africa, underscores the role of clinical excellence and health equity in epidemic response. The case sets a new global benchmark for filovirus containment through dignified, coordinated, and inclusive health system action.

This perspective explores Rwanda’s successful containment of a 2024 Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak, the third-largest in history. Rwanda achieved a 77% survival rate—unprecedented for an MVD outbreak—by integrating genomic surveillance, universal access to high-quality care, and rapid deployment of experimental vaccines and therapeutics. The author emphasizes how this effort, led by local clinicians and informed by lessons from previous outbreaks in Angola and West Africa, underscores the role of clinical excellence and health equity in epidemic response. The case sets a new global benchmark for filovirus containment through dignified, coordinated, and inclusive health system action.