The critical role of emergency departments in managing infectious disease outbreaks: Lessons from the Rwanda Marburg virus response

The 2024 Marburg Virus Disease outbreak in Rwanda underscored the indispensable role of Emergency Departments in the early detection, containment, and management of novel infectious diseases. As public health crises continue to grow in complexity, the Emergency Department becomes uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between clinical care and public health responses. Using lessons learned from King Faisal Hospital, Rwanda during the outbreak, this report outlines how Emergency Departments serve as frontline defenses during crisis management and identifies strategies to strengthen and enhance their preparedness.