Key points
- Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs), like Ebola disease and Marburg virus disease (Marburg), can cause serious illness or death.
- In some cases, infection prevention and control (IPC) is the only option available to stop VHF spread in healthcare settings.
- CDC experts can rapidly deploy to affected countries to help improve IPC and stop VHF outbreaks.
- By supporting VHF responses worldwide, CDC protects communities globally and keeps Americans safe.
Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs)
Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs), including Ebola disease and Marburg virus disease (Marburg), can cause serious illness or death.
In the case of Marburg and some types of Ebola disease, no approved treatments or vaccines exist.
During outbreaks of these viruses, IPC activities help protect healthcare workers and patients and ensure healthcare systems remain functional.
Providing IPC expertise to contain outbreaks
When a country experiencing a VHF outbreak requests assistance, CDC works closely with their government and other partners to:
- Develop, adapt, and/or update IPC/WASH guidelines, standard operating procedures, assessment tools, and other resources.
- Rapidly mobilize teams to help implement IPC measures in healthcare facilities with increased risk of exposure to suspected cases.
- Train healthcare workers in IPC best practices for VHF response.
- Help healthcare facilities conduct IPC assessments.
- Develop improvement plans for facilities based on IPC assessment results.
Since 2022, CDC has been invited to provide IPC expertise in response to six VHF outbreaks in Uganda, Equatorial Guinea, Tanzania, and Rwanda.
Responding to Marburg in Rwanda
In October 2024, CDC deployed three IPC experts to support the government of Rwanda in containing a Marburg outbreak that disproportionally impacted Rwanda’s healthcare sector.
Impact on healthcare sector
National IPC guidance
CDC deployers worked closely with the Rwanda Ministry of Health and CDC Rwanda to strengthen IPC measures in healthcare facilities and develop national-level guidance documents and tools to help stop the spread of Marburg virus.
IPC skill-building
The deployers supported national-level trainings for over 100 healthcare workers from the city of Kigali and surrounding areas.
The three-day training combined classroom learning with practical, hands-on sessions and focused on critical IPC skills for prevention and control of Marburg including patient screening procedures and triage, conducting IPC assessments, developing facility action plans, and safe patient care in high-risk areas of healthcare facilities.
Self-sustaining IPC education
CDC used the Training of Trainers model for all their educational efforts, meaning that participants received coaching and mentoring to teach colleagues at healthcare facilities in their areas helping expand IPC practices across the affected areas.
Impact
On Dec. 20, 2024, 74 days after the emergency response began, the Marburg outbreak was declared over. The virus was contained thanks in part to the diligence of the Rwandan Ministry of Health and healthcare workers in carrying out IPC activities.
Training on IPC measures not only reduces virus transmission during outbreaks but also strengthens routine infection control practices in healthcare facilities, offering long-lasting benefits.
By supporting public health emergency responses worldwide, CDC helps stop the spread of deadly infectious diseases at their source—protecting communities globally and safeguarding the health of Americans.
Learn more about how CDC works globally to keep Americans at home safe.
- WHO's Disease Outbreak News 'Marburg virus disease - Rwanda' from 20 Dec 2024 https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2024-DON548