Tanzania’s government has refuted reports by the World Health Organization (WHO) suggesting a suspected outbreak of the Marburg virus in the country’s north-western Kagera region. This response comes amidst heightened global attention to the deadly Ebola-like disease, which has been known to cause severe outbreaks in various parts of Africa.
Earlier this week, the WHO raised concerns over nine suspected cases in Kagera, reported within a span of five days. Tragically, eight of those cases resulted in fatalities. However, Tanzania’s Minister of Health, Jenista Mhagama, clarified that laboratory tests conducted on the suspected cases showed no traces of the Marburg virus. She emphasized the nation’s commitment to transparency and vigilance, stating, We would like to assure the international organizations, including WHO, that we shall always keep them up to date with ongoing developments.
Tanzania’s history with the Marburg virus is recent and alarming. The country faced its first confirmed outbreak in March 2023 in Bukoba district, also located in the Kagera region. That outbreak claimed six lives and lasted for nearly two months before it was contained. The experience underscored the importance of robust disease surveillance systems, which Tanzania has since been working to strengthen.
The Marburg virus is highly infectious and shares similarities with the Ebola virus. Symptoms include fever, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and, in severe cases, significant blood loss leading to death. According to WHO data, the virus has a mortality rate averaging 50%, though it can be higher depending on the outbreak and available healthcare resources.
Following the reported cases, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed concern about potential further cases as surveillance efforts intensified. WHO teams, in collaboration with Tanzanian health authorities, deployed rapid response units to Kagera to monitor and identify potential cases. Patients, including healthcare workers, were placed under close observation, and specimen collection was expedited.
While the WHO acknowledged the low risk of international spread, it flagged the regional risks posed by Kagera’s position as a transit hub. The region shares borders with Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, facilitating significant cross-border movement that could amplify the spread of infectious diseases.
Minister Mhagama assured the public that Tanzania’s surveillance systems and response mechanisms are well-prepared to detect and address any health threats. She refrained from providing the exact number of suspected cases investigated but emphasized that laboratory results conclusively ruled out the Marburg virus.
The global health community continues to monitor the situation closely. While the WHO has not recommended travel or trade restrictions with Tanzania, it remains vigilant given the potential for regional outbreaks.
The Marburg virus, first identified in 1967, is transmitted from fruit bats to humans and then spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals. There are no vaccines or specific treatments currently available, though experimental vaccines and therapies are undergoing trials.
The outbreak declared over in neighboring Rwanda in December 2023, which infected 66 people and caused 15 deaths, highlights the virus’s unpredictable and devastating nature.
The Tanzanian government’s swift action and reassurance are commendable, but the incident underscores the importance of constant vigilance. While no current cases of Marburg have been confirmed in Tanzania, the situation serves as a reminder of the ever-present threat of zoonotic diseases and the need for strong public health frameworks to mitigate potential crises.
