The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a suspected outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) in Tanzania’s Kagera region, resulting in at least eight deaths.
As of January 11, nine suspected cases have been identified across two districts in the country’s northwest, highlighting concerns about the disease’s potential spread.
Marburg virus, a highly lethal member of the same family as the Ebola virus, causes a hemorrhagic fever with symptoms that include severe headache, high fever, vomiting blood, and bleeding from orifices in advanced stages. Fatality rates can range from 24% to as high as 88%, depending on the outbreak and access to medical care.
WHO noted that the virus is primarily transmitted to humans through contact with infected fruit bats and spreads between individuals via direct contact with blood, bodily fluids, or contaminated materials such as clothing or bedding.
Samples from two patients have been sent to Tanzania’s national laboratory for confirmation, and contact tracing efforts are underway. Healthcare workers and others who may have been exposed to infected individuals are being closely monitored.
“Given the transit hub nature of Kagera and its proximity to neighboring countries, the risk of regional spread is high,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated on social media platform X.
Neighboring nations such as Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are on alert due to significant cross-border movement.
The global risk remains assessed as low, but WHO cautioned that the geographic spread of suspected cases suggests the outbreak may be larger than initially detected.
This suspected outbreak follows a recent Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda, which resulted in 66 cases and 15 deaths. Tanzania also experienced an outbreak in Kagera in 2023, which saw nine cases and six fatalities.
Outbreaks of Marburg virus are typically declared over after 42 days with no new cases and when the last patient has tested negative for the virus twice.
Currently, there are no approved vaccines or treatments for Marburg virus. Supportive care, such as hydration and treatment of specific symptoms, remains the primary method of managing the disease.
WHO emphasized the importance of strengthening surveillance, early detection, and rapid response measures to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread. Investigations into the source of the current outbreak and possible links to wildlife reservoirs are ongoing.
As Tanzania and neighboring nations work to contain the outbreak, global health authorities are closely monitoring the situation, urging vigilance to prevent further transmission and minimize loss of life.
With input from Al Jazeera and the Guardian.
