Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan announced on Monday that a sample from a remote part of northern Tanzania has tested positive for the highly contagious Marburg disease. The virus, similar to Ebola, has a fatality rate of up to 88% if left untreated.
This marks the second Marburg outbreak in Tanzania’s Kagera region since 2023. The region is near the border with Rwanda, where an outbreak was declared over just a month ago and resulted in 15 deaths and 66 cases.
The WHO had initially reported on January 14 that Marburg claimed eight lives in Tanzania’s Kagera region but later disputed this claim after initial tests returned negative results. The new case confirms the presence of the virus, which spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids or contaminated surfaces.
Symptoms of Marburg disease include fever, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and in severe cases, hemorrhagic bleeding. There is currently no authorized vaccine or treatment for the virus, making it particularly dangerous during outbreaks.
Health authorities are urging vigilance as they work to contain the outbreak. WHO officials have been collaborating with Tanzanian health authorities to provide support, including expert teams and resources.
Source: https://www.newsweek.com/marburg-bat-virus-88-fatality-rate-spread-another-country-2017827