In July 2024 Rwanda detected its first Marburg outbreak in the capital, Kigali. The first cases were among health workers at a major hospital. The World Health Organization said Marburg is highly infectious and often deadly.
Authorities worked with the WHO and set up a command post that joined health, local government and security teams. Scientists used genomic tests and linked the virus to bats in mining areas. Investigational doses were given for clinical trials and specific treatments were used. Officials said most confirmed patients recovered and the outbreak ended in November.
Difficult words
- outbreak — A sudden start of many disease cases
- infectious — Able to spread disease from one to another
- genomic — Related to the genes of an organism
- investigational — Used for testing but not yet approved
- recover — Become well again after illnessrecovered
- authority — A person or group with official powerAuthorities
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Discussion questions
- Why did officials set up a command post with different teams?
- Which actions in the article helped end the outbreak?
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