Tanzanian President Samia Suhulu Hassan confirms Marburg virus outbreak

Tanzania’s president announced an outbreak of the Marburg virus, an Ebola-like virus, just a week after her health minister denied there were any cases in the country.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan told a news conference on Monday that health authorities had confirmed a case of Marburg in the northwestern Kagera region.

“We are confident that we will overcome this challenge once again,” Samia said, referring to a previous outbreak in Tanzania two years ago.

On January 14, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported a suspected Marburg outbreak in the country, after recording nine suspected cases and eight deaths in five days in Kagera.

But Tanzanian Health Minister Jenista Mhagama said in a statement that after analyzing the samples, all suspected cases tested negative for Marburg.

At Monday’s press conference, organized jointly with the WHO, President Samia said her government had intensified its efforts and a rapid response team had been dispatched to track all suspected cases.

Marburg is highly contagious, with symptoms including fever, muscle aches, diarrhea, vomiting and, in some cases, death from significant blood loss.

On average, the virus kills half of the people it infects, according to the WHO.

Tanzania says that in addition to the confirmed case, authorities have taken samples from 24 other people suspected of having Marburg. All tested negative.

Furthermore, the cause of the eight deaths reported by the WHO has not yet been revealed.

Tanzania experienced its first Marburg outbreak in March 2023 in Bukoba district. It killed six people and lasted almost two months.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the global risk from the current outbreak in Tanzania was “low”.

“Even if there is no approved treatment or vaccine, outbreaks can be stopped quickly,” he said. “WHO advises against restrictions. Now is the time for collaboration.”

On Thursday, Africa CDC, the African Union’s public health agency, said more than 300 contacts had been identified for further testing. Health workers account for 56 of those contacts, while 16 on the list are believed to have had direct contact with people suspected of having had Marburg.

The International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005 require countries to report public health events and emergencies that may cross borders. Kagera is a transit hub with many people traveling to and from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda.

In December, neighboring Rwanda declared the country’s outbreak, which had infected 66 people and killed 15, was over.

Marburg virus is transmitted to humans by fruit bats and then by contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals.

There is no specific treatment or vaccine for the virus, although trials are underway.