Two Marburg virus disease patients in Rwanda have been successfully taken off mechanical ventilation after more than 10 days of care from the country’s multidisciplinary clinical team.

Dr Menelas Nkeshimana, a Senior Consultant in Internal Medicine and Head of the Department of Health Workforce Development at the Ministry of Health, noted that the development was historic as it marked the first time a Marburg patient has been extubated on the continent.

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"This breakthrough will significantly enhance clinical management guidelines for filoviruses," he posted on X.

ALSO READ: Rwanda hoping to see &039;zero new Marburg cases, deaths for several days'

The trend in managing the current Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda is "positive" and health authorities hope to report no new cases and deaths for several days, Health Minister Dr Sabin Nsanzimana said on October 17 at a virtual press briefing on Marburg and Mpox outbreaks in Africa, which was hosted by Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

Rwanda confirmed the Marburg outbreak on September 27.

The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, arrived in Rwanda on Friday, October 18, to see firsthand the ongoing Marburg response and pledge WHO's continued support to all responders.

The WHO boss noted that he was impressed by the professionalism of the health workers, including as they supported their colleagues who were infected.