The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed on Wednesday that a suspected outbreak of Marburg disease in a remote area of northern Tanzania has resulted in the deaths of eight individuals.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated, “We are aware of 9 cases so far, including 8 fatalities. We expect to see additional cases in the coming days as disease surveillance improves.”
Marburg virus, like Ebola, originates in fruit bats and spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals or contaminated surfaces such as bed linens. The virus is highly contagious, and without proper medical intervention, it can be fatal in up to 88% of cases. Symptoms of Marburg disease include fever, muscle aches, diarrhea, vomiting, and in severe cases, death due to significant blood loss. Currently, there is no authorized vaccine or treatment for the virus.
The WHO’s risk assessment for the outbreak in Tanzania is high at both the national and regional levels but remains low globally. No immediate comments have been issued by Tanzanian health authorities regarding the situation.
The recent outbreak follows a Marburg crisis in Rwanda, where an outbreak reported on September 27 was declared over on December 20. During that outbreak, 15 people died, and 66 were infected, with many of the cases occurring among healthcare workers who treated the initial patients.
A Marburg outbreak in Tanzania’s Kagera region in 2023 also claimed at least five lives, as Kagera shares a border with Rwanda.
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