In a concerning development, Tanzania’s government recently acknowledged a Marburg virus outbreak, which had been initially dismissed just a week prior.
Tanzania Faces Marburg Virus Outbreak Amid Conflicting Statements
Tanzania Faces Marburg Virus Outbreak Amid Conflicting Statements
Tanzania's health authorities confirm a Marburg virus outbreak, reversing previous denials from government officials.
Article Text:
Tanzania's president, Samia Suluhu Hassan, has officially announced a Marburg virus outbreak, an Ebola-related virus, in the country’s north-western Kagera region. This confirmation follows a previous denial by the health minister regarding the existence of any cases. During a press conference on Monday, President Samia informed the public that health authorities had verified one case of Marburg, despite earlier claims that other suspected cases tested negative.
"Together, we are confident that we will overcome this challenge once again," she emphasized, referencing the country’s previous encounter with the virus two years ago.
The World Health Organization (WHO) had raised alarms on January 14, announcing a suspected outbreak in the region following reports of nine suspected cases along with eight deaths within a span of five days. However, Tanzanian Health Minister Jenista Mhagama initially asserted that all sampled cases returned negative results for the Marburg virus.
At the recent press briefing, held in conjunction with WHO officials, the president noted enhancements in the country’s response measures, including the deployment of a rapid response team to evaluate all suspected cases.
Marburg virus is known for its high infection rate, presenting symptoms like fever, muscle pain, vomiting, and can lead to severe bleeding and, unfortunately, death. WHO statistics indicate that the virus claims the lives of approximately half of those it infects.
Alongside the confirmed case, Tanzanian authorities are monitoring 24 others suspected of carrying the virus; however, these individuals tested negative. The circumstances surrounding the eight reported deaths from the WHO remain under investigation.
This isn’t Tanzania’s first confrontation with the Marburg virus; an outbreak earlier this year in the Bukoba district claimed six lives and persisted for nearly two months. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus conveyed that the current global risk concerning this outbreak is relatively “low” and emphasized that although no approved vaccines or treatments exist, outbreaks can swiftly be controlled with the right interventions. He encouraged a cooperative approach, indicating that "now is the time for collaboration."
On Thursday, the Africa CDC, a health agency of the African Union, reported that over 300 contacts had been identified for further assessments, highlighting that 56 of these contacts are health workers and 16 had close interactions with those suspected of harboring the virus.
Given Kagera's significance as a travel hub connected to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Burundi, and Rwanda, the IHR (International Health Regulations) mandates countries to keep track of public health emergencies that may transcend borders. Notably, Rwanda declared the conclusion of its prior Marburg outbreak in December, which affected 66 individuals and resulted in 15 fatalities.
Marburg is primarily transmitted to humans through fruit bats, with the viral progression furthered through contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals. While specific treatment avenues remain under exploration, no definitive vaccines are yet available.
Tanzania's president, Samia Suluhu Hassan, has officially announced a Marburg virus outbreak, an Ebola-related virus, in the country’s north-western Kagera region. This confirmation follows a previous denial by the health minister regarding the existence of any cases. During a press conference on Monday, President Samia informed the public that health authorities had verified one case of Marburg, despite earlier claims that other suspected cases tested negative.
"Together, we are confident that we will overcome this challenge once again," she emphasized, referencing the country’s previous encounter with the virus two years ago.
The World Health Organization (WHO) had raised alarms on January 14, announcing a suspected outbreak in the region following reports of nine suspected cases along with eight deaths within a span of five days. However, Tanzanian Health Minister Jenista Mhagama initially asserted that all sampled cases returned negative results for the Marburg virus.
At the recent press briefing, held in conjunction with WHO officials, the president noted enhancements in the country’s response measures, including the deployment of a rapid response team to evaluate all suspected cases.
Marburg virus is known for its high infection rate, presenting symptoms like fever, muscle pain, vomiting, and can lead to severe bleeding and, unfortunately, death. WHO statistics indicate that the virus claims the lives of approximately half of those it infects.
Alongside the confirmed case, Tanzanian authorities are monitoring 24 others suspected of carrying the virus; however, these individuals tested negative. The circumstances surrounding the eight reported deaths from the WHO remain under investigation.
This isn’t Tanzania’s first confrontation with the Marburg virus; an outbreak earlier this year in the Bukoba district claimed six lives and persisted for nearly two months. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus conveyed that the current global risk concerning this outbreak is relatively “low” and emphasized that although no approved vaccines or treatments exist, outbreaks can swiftly be controlled with the right interventions. He encouraged a cooperative approach, indicating that "now is the time for collaboration."
On Thursday, the Africa CDC, a health agency of the African Union, reported that over 300 contacts had been identified for further assessments, highlighting that 56 of these contacts are health workers and 16 had close interactions with those suspected of harboring the virus.
Given Kagera's significance as a travel hub connected to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Burundi, and Rwanda, the IHR (International Health Regulations) mandates countries to keep track of public health emergencies that may transcend borders. Notably, Rwanda declared the conclusion of its prior Marburg outbreak in December, which affected 66 individuals and resulted in 15 fatalities.
Marburg is primarily transmitted to humans through fruit bats, with the viral progression furthered through contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals. While specific treatment avenues remain under exploration, no definitive vaccines are yet available.
