Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has announced an outbreak of Marburg virus, a highly infectious Ebola-like virus, in the north-western region of Kagera.
This confirmation comes just a week after the country’s Health Minister, Jenista Mhagama, denied any cases of Marburg in Tanzania.
According to President Hassan, health authorities have confirmed one case of Marburg, and a rapid response team has been dispatched to follow up on all suspected cases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) had reported a suspected Marburg outbreak in Tanzania on January 14, with nine suspected cases and eight deaths over five days in Kagera.
However, Minister Mhagama had stated that all suspected cases were found negative for Marburg after sample analysis.
The Marburg virus is highly infectious, with symptoms including fever, muscle pains, diarrhea, vomiting, and in some cases, death through extreme blood loss.
The virus kills approximately half of the people it infects, according to the WHO.
Tanzania had previously experienced a Marburg outbreak in March 2023, which killed six people and lasted for nearly two months.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has stated that the global risk from Tanzania’s current outbreak is “low,” emphasizing that outbreaks can be stopped quickly despite the lack of approved treatment or vaccines.
