Tanzania’s president has confirmed a Marburg virus outbreak in the country just a week after her health minister denied that there were any cases. The World Health Organization (WHO) had reported nine suspected cases and eight deaths over five days in Kagera.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan said at a press conference on Monday that one case of Marburg has been confirmed in the north-western region. She emphasized her government’s commitment to addressing the outbreak, with a rapid response team dispatched to follow up on all suspected cases.
Marburg is a highly infectious virus that causes symptoms such as fever, muscle pains, and diarrhoea. The WHO reported that half of those infected by Marburg die from the disease. Tanzania has taken samples from 24 people suspected of having Marburg, with all testing negative.
The cause of the eight deaths reported by the WHO remains unknown. Tanzania experienced a previous Marburg outbreak in March 2023, which killed six people and lasted for nearly two months. The global risk of the current outbreak is low, according to WHO director general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
African health officials are working together to contain the spread of the virus, with over 300 contacts identified for further testing.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3e1v1nywy7o