The United Republic of Tanzania has confirmed an outbreak of the Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) in the Kagera region, located in the northwest of the country. The confirmation follows the positive test of one case after thorough investigations and lab tests on suspected cases.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan announced the news during a press briefing with the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in Dodoma, the capital. It is the second outbreak in the country in two years.
Hassan reported that laboratory tests conducted in Kagera and confirmed in Dar es Salaam identified one person as infected with the Marburg virus, while all other suspected cases tested negative. She stated that Tanzania has successfully contained similar outbreaks in the past and is committed to doing so again.
As of Monday, 20 January 2025, there have been 25 suspected cases reported, all of which tested negative and are being monitored closely. These cases have emerged from the Biharamulo and Muleba districts.
Hassan reassured both the public and the international community of Tanzania’s commitment to tackling health challenges like the Marburg virus. The WHO is assisting local health authorities to strengthen outbreak control efforts, which include surveillance, testing, treatment, and increasing public awareness to prevent further virus spread.
Tedros stressed the importance of collaboration to protect health in Tanzania and the surrounding region. Marburg virus disease is known for causing severe illness and is related to Ebola virus disease.
Symptoms can appear quickly, leading to high fever, severe headaches, and fatigue, with severe bleeding symptoms developing within a week.
The disease has a case fatality ratio of up to 88 percent, but it can be much lower with good and early patient care.
WHO’s Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, indicated that the president’s declaration and government actions are vital for managing the disease and preventing its spread beyond borders.
Tanzania previously experienced its first Marburg outbreak in March 2023, involving nine cases and six fatalities, amounting to a 67 percent death rate.
In a related development, the Africa Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has committed $2 million to support Tanzania’s efforts to contain the MVD outbreak. The funding is expected to boost immediate response measures including deployment of a multidisciplinary team of 12 public health experts.
Marburg virus typically comes from fruit bats and spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids. Currently, there are no approved treatments or vaccines for the virus, although supportive care, including rehydration, can improve survival rates.
Several outbreaks of MVD were previously reported from Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and also Angola, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, and South Africa.
No case of the Marburg virus has been detected in Nigeria to date. In 2024, following an outbreak of the disease in parts of Africa, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said an expert risk assessment showed that Nigeria was at moderate risk of the virus, which is highly infectious and similar to Ebola viral disease.
With no specific treatment or vaccine for Marburg, the agency said it was prepared to respond in the event of a potential outbreak in the country. Health declaration forms have been activated for incoming passengers from affected regions even as suspected cases are to be isolated immediately upon detection.
