Tanzanian President Samia Suhulu Hassan confirms Marburg virus outbreak

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 news conference on Monday that health authorities had confirmed a case from Marburg in the northwestern region of Kagera.

“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 Tanzania’s Health Minister Jenista Mhagama said in a statement that after the samples were tested, all suspected cases tested negative for Marburg.

At Monday’s press conference, held jointly with the WHO, President Samia said her government had stepped up its efforts and a rapid response team had been sent to follow up on all suspected cases.

Marburg is highly contagious, with symptoms including fever, muscle aches, diarrhea, vomiting and, in some cases, death from extreme 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 took samples from 24 other people suspected of having Marburg. All of these tested 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.

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

“Although there is no approved treatment or vaccine, outbreaks can be stopped quickly,” he said. “The WHO advises against restrictions. Now is the time to collaborate.”

On Thursday, Africa CDC, the African Union’s public health agency, said more than 300 contacts had been identified for further testing. Healthcare workers make up 56 of these contacts, while 16 on the list are known 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 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 declared an outbreak in the country, which had infected 66 people and killed 15, over.

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

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