A suspected outbreak of Marburg, a rare and deadly Ebola-like haemorrhagic fever, has occurred in Tanzania’s northeastern Kagera region. Eight people are believed to have died, with nearly 90% of the nine infected victims succumbing to the disease.
The Marburg virus spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids, often making it difficult to diagnose in early stages due to similarities with more common diseases like malaria. Healthcare workers are particularly at risk and may not realize the severity of the outbreak until it’s too late.
Samples from the affected individuals are currently undergoing laboratory testing for official confirmation, but experts warn that more cases may be spreading undetected. The geographical spread and high death rate raise concerns about the potential for further transmission.
Source: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/marburg-virus-outbreak-tanzania-who