Rwanda achieved unprecedented success in containing a Marburg hemorrhagic fever outbreak, reducing the fatality rate to 22.7 percent, thanks to rapid government action and timely support from the Pandemic Fund and partner organizations. The outbreak occurred while Rwanda was still managing an active mpox outbreak, prompting a swift declaration and response to prevent further spread.
The Pandemic Fund fast-tracked US$129 million for projects in Africa, including a US$24.9 million grant to Rwanda’s “Strengthening Pandemic Prevention & Response Through One Health Approach” project. This funding catalyzed an additional US$154 million in co-investment and US$5.8 million in international co-financing from organizations such as WHO, UNICEF, and the FAO. The three-year, disease-agnostic project strengthened surveillance systems, laboratory capacity, and health workforce readiness, adapting rapidly from mpox response to Marburg containment.
Key interventions included improved contact tracing, expanded testing, timely deployment of countermeasures, and full community engagement. Laboratory capacity was enhanced with nearly 19,000 pieces of equipment distributed across 16 antimicrobial resistance sentinel sites and national centers of excellence. These upgrades enabled timely diagnosis and monitoring of both Marburg and mpox, ensuring data-driven decision-making.
Rwanda launched the Health Intelligence Center in April 2025, supported by the Pandemic Fund, to digitalize health facilities nationwide. This center leverages real-time data and AI for disease surveillance, efficient resource allocation, and informed policymaking. Innovative AI tools for mpox detection were also scaled up, alongside a national One Health surveillance system and the second National Action Plan on antimicrobial resistance, establishing a strategic framework for public health security.
Workforce development played a critical role, with over 2,500 health workers trained and deployed to high-risk districts, supported by mentorship and supervision. Laboratory staff, veterinarians, and community health workers received specialized training to ensure safe sample handling and outbreak response. Community engagement efforts involved 462 faith-based organizations, 12,000 youth, and over 1.4 million people, enhancing public awareness, risk communication, and psychological support.
Rwanda applied lessons from Marburg to establish a fever clinic at the outbreak origin, monitoring approximately 1,000 mine workers. The country is also building additional Centers of Excellence for outbreak management, set to launch in December 2025, alongside continued workforce training and infrastructure improvements. These measures aim to strengthen pandemic preparedness, protect frontline workers, and ensure a resilient health system capable of responding to future outbreaks effectively.
This coordinated approach demonstrates the Pandemic Fund’s role in supporting countries to protect lives, enhance regional health security, and build long-term resilience against emerging infectious diseases.
