Tanzania Declares Marburg Virus Outbreak Following Initial Denial

Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan has officially confirmed an outbreak of the Marburg virus, an infectious disease similar to Ebola, after initial denials from her health minister. During a press conference on Monday, President Samia revealed that health authorities had identified one confirmed case in the north-west Kagera region. She expressed confidence in the government's response, recalling a previous outbreak that occurred two years ago.The World Health Organization (WHO) reported earlier on January 14 that there were concerns regarding a suspected outbreak, highlighting nine suspected cases and eight fatalities within a five-day period in Kagera. However, Tanzanian Health Minister Jenista Mhagama had initially stated that all tested samples returned negative results for Marburg.At the press briefing alongside WHO representatives, President Samia announced that the government has intensified its response, deploying a rapid response team to investigate all suspected cases. The Marburg virus is known to be highly contagious, with symptoms such as fever, muscle pains, diarrhoea, and extreme blood loss, resulting in a mortality rate averaging around 50%, according to the WHO.In addition to the confirmed case, Tanzanian health authorities have also taken samples from 24 individuals suspected of carrying the virus, all of whom tested negative. However, the cause of the eight fatalities reported by the WHO remains unclear.Tanzania previously experienced its first Marburg outbreak in March 2023 in the Bukoba district, which resulted in six deaths and lasted roughly two months. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the global risk from this current outbreak is considered "low." He underscored the importance of collaboration, noting that while there are no approved treatments or vaccines, outbreaks of such viruses can be controlled swiftly.As a precaution, the Africa CDC has identified over 300 contacts of the infected individuals for further testing. This includes health workers and 16 individuals who were in direct contact with suspected cases. Kagera serves as a transit hub, making it crucial for Tanzania to efficiently manage the outbreak, especially considering the movement of people to and from neighbouring countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Burundi, and Rwanda.The Marburg virus spreads to humans from fruit bats and through contact with bodily fluids of infected persons. As trials for treatments and vaccines are ongoing, the situation remains a pressing concern for the region.