Tanzania Confirms Marburg Virus Outbreak in Kagera Region

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Tanzania’s President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, has confirmed on January 20 the outbreak of the Marburg virus in the north-western Kagera region, just days after the country’s Health minister denied the presence of the virus.
The confirmation came after a suspected outbreak was reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), which noted nine suspected cases and eight deaths. Despite previous denials, President Samia stated that health authorities had identified one confirmed case of Marburg, while 24 other suspected cases tested negative.
Marburg, a highly infectious virus similar to Ebola, is transmitted from fruit bats and spreads through bodily fluids. It causes severe symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, and often extreme blood loss, with a fatality rate of 50%. The Tanzanian government has mobilised a rapid response team to manage the situation, though the cause of the eight deaths remains unclear. WHO’s director-general, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, reassured that the global risk is low, stressing that outbreaks can be swiftly controlled despite the absence of approved treatments or vaccines.
Tanzania had previously experienced a Marburg outbreak in 2023, which resulted in six deaths. The current outbreak is particularly concerning due to Kagera’s proximity to several neighbouring countries, with over 300 people, including health workers and close contacts of suspected cases, now being monitored. Despite this, WHO and the African CDC remain optimistic about containing the virus swiftly.