Suspected Marburg Virus Outbreak in Tanzania Claims Eight Lives

A suspected outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) in Tanzania’s Kagera region has led to nine reported infections, with eight fatalities, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This development follows weeks after neighboring Rwanda declared its Marburg outbreak over.

The cases, reported on January 10, 2025, exhibit symptoms such as severe headache, high fever, back pain, diarrhea, vomiting blood, muscle weakness, and external bleeding. Samples from two patients are being tested at Tanzania’s National Public Health Laboratory for confirmation. WHO is closely monitoring the situation, with health officials already identifying and following up with the patients’ contacts, including healthcare workers.

Marburg virus, a highly infectious disease from the same family as Ebola, has a fatality rate as high as 88%. The virus is primarily transmitted to humans from fruit bats and spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals or contaminated materials.

Tanzania’s health authorities have ramped up preventive measures, deploying rapid response teams, enhancing surveillance, and establishing treatment centers. Over 1,000 protective kits have been distributed to healthcare workers in the most affected areas.

The WHO has categorized the national and regional risk as high, given the fatality rate, involvement of healthcare workers, and Kagera’s status as a significant transit hub. However, the global risk remains low.

This latest outbreak comes after Rwanda’s Marburg outbreak, which infected 66 people and resulted in 15 deaths before being declared over in December 2024.

Health experts emphasize the importance of public awareness and community engagement to prevent further spread. The WHO advises avoiding contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals and maintaining stringent hygiene practices to reduce the risk of transmission.

Tanzania’s swift response aims to contain the outbreak, but the situation remains under close watch by global health authorities.