The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced a suspected Marburg virus outbreak in the Kagera region of Tanzania, which has previously experienced an outbreak in 2023. As of January 11, nine suspected cases have been reported, with eight of them fatal.
Health workers are among those suspected to be infected, highlighting the risk of transmission through contact with infected body fluids. The WHO has collected samples from two patients and is awaiting official confirmation. Contacts, including healthcare workers, have been identified and are being monitored in both districts.
There are currently no approved vaccines or treatments for Marburg virus infection, although an investigational vaccine was deployed in Rwanda’s 2023 outbreak to protect health workers. The WHO notes that zoonotic reservoirs of the virus, such as fruit bats, remain in the area, posing a risk of transmission.
The organization assesses the threat to Tanzania as high due to the high case-fatality rate, infections among health workers, and unknown source of the virus. Kagera’s transit hub location also increases the risk of cross-border transmission to neighboring countries, including Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The WHO has classified the global risk as low, but notes that the region’s airport connection to Dar es Salaam raises concerns for potential flights outside Tanzania.
Source: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/marburg/suspected-marburg-virus-outbreak-reported-tanzania