Tanzania has dismissed recent reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding a suspected outbreak of the Marburg virus in the Kagera region, located in the country’s northwest.
The WHO had raised concerns after it identified nine suspected cases, including eight deaths, between January 7 and 11. However, Tanzania’s Health Minister, Jenista Mhagama, stated that laboratory tests had ruled out Marburg as the cause, confirming that the samples tested negative for the virus.
The Minister assured both the international community and organizations such as the WHO that Tanzania had strengthened its disease surveillance and monitoring systems. She emphasized that the government would continue to keep global health bodies informed about any developments.
Marburg, a highly infectious virus similar to Ebola, causes severe hemorrhagic fever, with symptoms including fever, muscle pain, vomiting, and in some cases, bleeding. It is transmitted to humans primarily from fruit bats, and further spread occurs through contact with infected bodily fluids. The disease has a high mortality rate, killing up to 88% of those infected.
This is not the first time Tanzania has faced a Marburg outbreak. In March 2023, the country reported its first outbreak in the Bukoba district, which resulted in six deaths. The current situation has raised concerns due to the virus’s proximity to borders with several other countries, including Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. However, Tanzania’s authorities have yet to confirm this latest suspected outbreak, although the WHO has deployed experts to monitor the region and assist with containment efforts.
Despite these concerns, the WHO has stated that the global risk posed by the outbreak remains low, as the virus is not easily transmissible between people without direct contact with infected fluids. However, the agency has cautioned that the regional risk remains high due to Kagera’s role as a transit hub for cross-border travel.
With input from BBC and the Daily Mail.
