The Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak in Rwanda underscores the serious threat posed by zoonotic diseases. These pathogens, which are transmitted between animals and humans through direct contact or environmental factors, result in an estimated 2.4 billion infections and 2.2 million deaths annually1. MVD, which originates from bats, can spread rapidly to humans, with a fatality rate as high as 88%2. As of 10 October 2024, Rwanda has 58 confirmed cases of MVD, including 15 deaths3. This crisis highlights the urgent need for Rwanda to fully operationalize its One Health policy to address the interconnected risks of human, animal and environmental health.
Fair Use Notice
UNMC Global Center for Health Security staff curate publicly available news and information for educational and informational purposes. Brief excerpts of published articles may be displayed under principles of Fair Use, with credit and links provided to the source publications. All copyrights remain the property of their respective owners.