Tanzania’s Kagera region has reported eight deaths following a suspected outbreak of the Marburg virus, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The virus, a rare but often fatal hemorrhagic fever closely related to Ebola, has been linked to severe symptoms, including bleeding from the eyes, earning it the nickname “bleeding eye disease.”
As of January 11, nine confirmed cases, including healthcare workers, have been reported in the districts of Biharamulo and Muleba. Health authorities are working to trace the origin of the outbreak and identify any additional cases. Two patient samples have been sent for testing to the National Public Health Laboratory, and the results are pending.
The Kagera region, which previously experienced an outbreak in March 2023, serves as a key transport hub in East Africa, raising concerns over the potential for the disease to spread regionally. In the earlier outbreak, nine cases and six deaths were recorded. Neighboring countries, including Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, are considered at risk for cross-border transmission.
Rwanda, in particular, faced a significant outbreak in 2024, with at least 66 infections and 15 deaths from the Marburg virus, according to the country’s health ministry.
Despite the regional threat, the WHO has assessed the global risk as low, noting that Marburg is not easily transmitted between people. However, national risks remain high due to concerns over the lack of comprehensive information about the current outbreak. The WHO continues to monitor the situation closely, urging heightened vigilance to prevent further spread.
Marburg virus disease, which shares symptoms with Ebola, can cause fever, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, and gastrointestinal symptoms within 21 days of exposure. As the disease progresses, it can lead to severe complications such as shock, organ failure, and internal bleeding.
Transmission occurs through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals or contaminated surfaces. The virus is also associated with Egyptian rousette bats, whose saliva, urine, and feces can spread the virus to humans. Though historically linked to research involving infected monkeys, Marburg remains rare but deadly, with no specific treatment or vaccine available.
Health authorities continue to recommend strict precautions, including avoiding contact with infected individuals and their bodily fluids, as well as steering clear of bats and non-human primates in areas where the virus is present. The virus, first identified in Marburg, Germany, during an outbreak in 1967, continues to pose a serious health threat despite its relatively low transmissibility under controlled conditions.
Global health agencies are intensifying efforts to contain the outbreak and prevent its further spread in the region.
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