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Weekly Bulletin on Outbreaks and Other Emergencies: Week 51: 16 to 22 December 2024 (Data as Reported by: 17:00; 22 December 2024)

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This Weekly Bulletin focuses on public health emergencies occurring in the WHO African region. This week’s articles cover:

Marburg virus disease in Rwanda (End of outbreak declaration)

Unknown illness in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

For each of these events, a brief description, followed by public health measures implemented and an interpretation of the situation, is provided.
A table is provided at the end of the bulletin with information on all new and ongoing public health events currently being monitored in the region, as well as recent events that have been controlled and closed.
The Ministry of Health in Rwanda declared an end to the first ever reported Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak on 20 December 2024 after 84 days of response. Majority of the infections were recorded among health workers. The Government of Rwanda led the response, with support from WHO and other partners. However, the risk of re-emergence remains, particularly through potential new spillovers from interactions with the animal reservoir. Additionally, the virus may persist for an extended period in the body fluids of individuals who have recovered, highlighting the importance of their participation in the recovery care program.