Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan announced on Monday that a sample from a remote part of northern Tanzania has tested positive for the highly contagious Marburg disease, a virus with a fatality rate of up to 88 percent if untreated.
Speaking in Dodoma, the capital, alongside World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Hassan confirmed that while earlier reports had raised concerns about an outbreak, further testing had verified the presence of the virus.
Why It Matters
This marks the second Marburg outbreak in Tanzania's Kagera region since 2023. The region is near the border with Rwanda where an outbreak of the disease was declared over just a month ago.
Rwanda reported 15 deaths and 66 cases during its outbreak, which primarily affected healthcare workers treating the first patients.
The new case in Tanzania highlights the ongoing risk posed by Marburg in the region, with both countries working to monitor and contain the virus.
The WHO had initially reported on January 14 that Marburg had claimed the lives of eight people in Tanzania's Kagera region.
However, Tanzanian health officials disputed the claim shortly after, stating that initial tests had returned negative results.
The announcement on Monday confirmed the presence of the virus, which is similar to Ebola, and is known for its high mortality rate.
Marburg, which originates in fruit bats, spreads to humans through direct contact with bodily fluids from infected individuals or contaminated surfaces, such as bedding.
Is There A Cure For Marburg Disease?
Symptoms of the disease include fever, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and in severe cases, hemorrhagic bleeding, which can lead to death.
Currently, there is no authorized vaccine or treatment for the virus, making it particularly dangerous in outbreak situations.
Under the International Health Regulations of 2005, countries are obligated to report public health events and emergencies that may spread across borders.
Kagera, a major transit hub, sees frequent movement of people to and from neighboring countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Burundi, and Rwanda.
WHO officials have been collaborating with Tanzanian health authorities to provide support, including the dispatch of expert teams and resources to manage the outbreak.
What People Are Saying
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan said: "The test results have confirmed a case of Marburg. Twenty-five other samples tested negative."
What Happens Now
As the situation develops, health authorities have stressed the importance of vigilance, noting that Marburg's spread can be rapidly curtailed through strict isolation of infected individuals and careful monitoring of potential contacts.