Ruseesa Edouard, Hagabimana Aphrodis, Ntirenganya Fredrick, Kinani Peace, Hinda Ruton, Nshimiyimana Emmanuel, Niyoyita Claude, Umutoni Angela, Stamatakis Caroline, Mucunguzi Hugues Valois, Rwagasore Edson
Public Health Surveillance and Emergency Preparedness and Response Division, Rwanda Biomedical Centre, Kigali, Rwanda.
Rwanda Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda.
PLOS Glob Public Health. 2025 Sep 12;5(9):e0004452. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0004452. eCollection 2025.
Rwanda Field epidemiology and laboratory training programs (RFELTP) build capacity to improve disease surveillance, respond to public health emergencies, and inform evidence-based decision-making to mitigate the impact of epidemics and other public health events. On September 27, 2024, Rwanda declared its first Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak. MVD disease is a severe haemorrhagic fever with a fatality rate ranging from 24% to 90%. We describe the role played by the RFELTP in the outbreak response, and identify key strengths and challenges of the program related to the response. In November 2024, we provided a self-administered questionnaire delivered online to all residents and graduates of RFELTP. The questionnaire included sections on sociodemographic, experience in outbreak response, and MVD outbreak response experiences. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed, and the data were analysed using Stata version 16. Among the 523 total participants, 209 responded (40.0%). About a third of the participants (34.8%) supported MVD response activities. Residents and graduates supported the response in all 30 districts of Rwanda, mainly at the national and district levels. Most supported epidemiology and surveillance 41.2%, data management 19.2%, infection prevention control 14.3%, and leadership and coordination pillars 10.4%. Nearly all 96.7% felt adequately prepared by their RFELTP to handle outbreak responses. The RFELTP graduates and residents proved to be a critical resource in the MVD outbreak response, enhancing the country's capacity to respond to public health emergencies. Continued investment in this training program is essential for enhancing global health security and strengthening capabilities to respond to public health emergencies.
卢旺达现场流行病学与实验室培训项目（RFELTP）致力于提升疾病监测能力、应对突发公共卫生事件，并为基于证据的决策提供信息，以减轻流行病和其他公共卫生事件的影响。2024年9月27日，卢旺达宣布首次爆发马尔堡病毒病（MVD）。MVD是一种严重的出血热，病死率在24%至90%之间。我们描述了RFELTP在应对此次疫情中所发挥的作用，并确定了该项目在应对方面的关键优势和挑战。2024年11月，我们向RFELTP的所有学员和毕业生在线发放了一份自填式问卷。问卷内容包括社会人口统计学、疫情应对经验以及MVD疫情应对经验等部分。进行了描述性统计分析，并使用Stata 16版本对数据进行了分析。在总共523名参与者中，209人做出了回应（40.0%）。约三分之一的参与者（34.8%）支持MVD应对活动。学员和毕业生在卢旺达所有30个地区都支持应对工作，主要是在国家和地区层面。大多数人支持流行病学和监测（41.2%）、数据管理（19.2%）、感染预防控制（14.3%）以及领导与协调支柱（10.4%）。几乎所有人（96.7%）都认为RFELTP使他们有足够的准备来应对疫情。RFELTP的毕业生和学员被证明是MVD疫情应对中的关键资源，增强了该国应对突发公共卫生事件的能力。持续投资于该培训项目对于加强全球卫生安全和提升应对突发公共卫生事件的能力至关重要。
