Tanzania Declares Marburg Virus Outbreak Amid Conflicting Reports

Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan has acknowledged a Marburg virus outbreak, confirming one case in Kagera region, following earlier public denials about the virus’s presence.

Tanzania's health crisis escalated this week as President Samia Suluhu Hassan officially recognized an outbreak of the Marburg virus, a disease closely related to Ebola, despite her health minister’s previous claims that there were no confirmed cases. The president revealed at a press conference on Monday that health authorities had identified one case of Marburg in the northwestern region of Kagera, stating, "We are confident that we will overcome this challenge once again," referencing a similar situation from two years ago.

This announcement comes after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a suspected outbreak on January 14, having tracked nine suspected cases and eight deaths over a mere five days. However, Health Minister Jenista Mhagama previously asserted that all test samples returned negative for the virus.

During the briefing held with the WHO, President Samia detailed that the government is intensifying its response efforts, and a rapid response team has been activated to investigate all suspected cases. Symptoms of Marburg can be severe, including high fever, muscle aches, vomiting, and potentially fatal blood loss; the virus reportedly kills approximately 50% of those infected.

In conjunction with the confirmed case, officials have conducted tests on 24 other individuals who were suspected of having contracted Marburg; all results returned negative. The origins of the eight deaths reported by WHO are still unclear.

Previously, Tanzania faced its first Marburg outbreak in March 2023, predominantly in Bukoba district, which resulted in six fatalities over almost two months. WHO director general Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus assessed the current outbreak's global risk as "low," emphasizing that, despite the absence of approved treatments or vaccines, swift containment is feasible. He urged against implementing travel restrictions, advocating for collaborative efforts instead.

The Africa CDC has reported identifying over 300 individuals who may need further testing, with 56 identified as health workers and another 16 having had direct contact with suspected cases. According to the International Health Regulations established in 2005, countries are mandated to announce public health events that could potentially affect neighboring nations. It is noteworthy that Kagera serves as a significant transit hub for travelers from surrounding regions, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

Earlier in December, Rwanda declared its own Marburg outbreak, which infected 66 individuals and resulted in 15 deaths, officially over. The Marburg virus is believed to be transmitted to humans through fruit bats, with subsequent infections occurring through contact with bodily fluids of an infected person, leading to heightened vigilance among health authorities in the region.

The global health community remains alert as Tanzanian authorities continue to navigate the challenges posed by the Marburg virus.