Summary
Dr. Tsion Firew, a doctor in Rwanda, played a key role in responding to the country's first Marburg virus outbreak announced in September 2024. The outbreak, which likely started with a miner infected by a bat, ended in December 2024 with Rwanda recording the lowest death rate in a Marburg outbreak, at 23%.
Key Facts
- Dr. Tsion Firew is the chair of emergency medicine at Africa Health Sciences University in Rwanda.
- Rwanda announced its first Marburg virus outbreak on September 27, 2024.
- Marburg is a virus similar to Ebola, known for its high death rate.
- During the outbreak, Dr. Firew sent her young children to another country for their safety.
- The outbreak in Rwanda ended on December 20, 2024.
- Rwanda achieved the lowest recorded death rate in a Marburg outbreak, with 23% of patients dying.
- 15 out of 66 Marburg patients in Rwanda died during the outbreak.
- Over three-quarters of Marburg patients were health care workers, many of whom were colleagues of Dr. Firew.
