UK and Rwanda collaborate to combat Marburg Virus Disease outbreak

The United Kingdom is joining forces with the Government of Rwanda in a concerted effort to bring an end to the outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease (MVD). A funding package of up to £2m has been allocated to provide UK expertise to support outbreak prevention and bolster the capacity of the current response.

Part of this funding, £0.9m, will be directed towards the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF to enhance coordination and delivery of response efforts including surveillance, mental health and psychosocial care, and risk communication and community engagement. Additionally, up to £0.6m will be utilized to provide expertise in response to specific requests from the Government of Rwanda.

An eleven-person UK Emergency Medical Team has been deployed to provide Infection Prevention and Control support, as well as assist Intensive Care Units with non-MVD patients to ensure critical services continue uninterrupted. Furthermore, three experts from the UK-Public Health Rapid Support Team are currently in Kigali collaborating with UNICEF to engage with communities and curb the spread of the virus.

UK Emergency Medical Team in a meeting in Kigali

UK experts specializing in Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers and therapeutic trials have been on the ground in Kigali from the onset of the outbreak, supporting the Ministry of Health in launching the first-ever Marburg treatment trial in partnership with WHO and other organizations. The UK is also funding partners such as the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to support vaccine and therapeutic trials conducted by the Rwandan Ministry of Health, contributing valuable evidence for infection prevention and aiding recovery.

In addition to supporting immediate response efforts, the UK is actively assisting Rwanda in researching the outbreak’s source and zoonotic transmission. This research will equip Rwanda with better tools for early detection and containment of future outbreaks.

British High Commissioner to Rwanda, Alison Thorpe, expressed pride in collaborating with Rwanda, WHO, and other partners to bring an end to the Marburg outbreak. The UK’s contribution aims to bolster Rwanda’s commendable efforts in combating Marburg and saving lives. The UK stands in solidarity with the government and people of Rwanda in swiftly containing this outbreak.