Tanzania’s president announced an outbreak of the Marburg virus, a virus similar to Ebola, just a week after her health minister denied there were any cases in the country.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan said at a press conference on Monday that health authorities have confirmed one case of Marburg in the northwestern region of Kagera.
“We are confident that we will overcome this challenge once again,” said Samia, referring to the previous outbreak in Tanzania two years ago.
On January 14, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported a suspected Marburg outbreak in the country, recording nine suspected cases and eight deaths over five days in Kagera.
But Tanzania’s health minister, Jenista Mhagama, said in a statement that after sample analysis, all suspected cases had tested negative for Marburg.
At a press briefing on Monday, which was held jointly with the WHO, President Samia said her government had stepped up its efforts and a rapid response team had been sent to monitor all suspected cases.
Marburg is highly contagious, with symptoms including fever, muscle aches, diarrhea, vomiting and, in some cases, death from massive blood loss.
According to the WHO, the virus kills on average half of the people it infects.
Tanzania says that in addition to the one confirmed case, authorities have taken samples from 24 people suspected of having Marburg. All tested were negative.
Meanwhile, 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.
Director General of the WHO, dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the global risk from the current outbreak in Tanzania was “low”.
“Although there is no approved treatment or vaccine, outbreaks can be stopped quickly,” he said. “WHO advises against restrictions. Now is the time to cooperate.”
On Thursday, Africa CDC, the African Union’s public health agency, said more than 300 contacts had been identified for further testing. Healthcare workers account for 56 of those contacts, while 16 from the list are known to have had direct contact with those suspected of having Marburg.
The 2005 International Health Regulations (IHR) require countries to report public health events and emergencies that could cross borders. Kagera is a transit hub with many people traveling to and from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda.
In December, neighboring Rwanda announced that the epidemic in the country, which infected 66 people and killed 15, was over.
Marburg virus is transmitted to humans from fruit bats and then through contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals.
There are no specific treatments or vaccines for the virus, although trials are ongoing.
